Shimla, Sept. 20 -- Himachal Pradesh, where horticulture accounts for 22 per cent of the value of agricultural produce and covers 26 per cent of the state's agricultural area, is increasingly using technology to strengthen the horticulture value chain, from procurement and processing to marketing, with an aim to improve returns for growers.
Apples remain at the heart of the state's horticulture economy, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of its total fruit production.
Taking a significant step towards modernising the sector, the Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation Ltd (HPMC), a government PSU, has diversified its operations while using technology to improve efficiency and transparency. The move has also opened up greater opportunities for value addition and business diversification.
HPMC recorded a turnover of Rs 214.19 crore in 2025-26, reflecting the expansion of its operations.
A senior HPMC official said the corporation had taken the technology-driven horticulture value chain "from Orchard to Market".
Under the new system, growers register online and procurement-related details are recorded through a digital portal. The initiative is aimed at improving transparency, accountability, record management and operational efficiency in the procurement process.
The scale of procurement highlights the importance of the system. As of September 18, 2026, HPMC had procured 4,188.504 metric tonnes of apples from growers under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS)-2026.
The procurement is being carried out exclusively through the online portal at the prescribed market intervention price of Rs 12 per kilogram. For growers, the institutionalised and transparent mechanism is expected to provide greater clarity and confidence in the procurement process.
The state government is also focusing on the scientific utilisation of apple waste and the promotion of value-added products to minimise wastage, strengthen processing, create employment and diversify the horticulture economy.
Another measure aimed at improving transparency and uniformity in the apple trade is the introduction of a universal carton system. Under the system, apples are packed in standardised 20-kg cartons, with specifications prescribed for different grades.
The system is intended to reduce discrepancies in packing, bring greater transparency to transactions and protect growers' interests. Along with digital procurement, standardised packaging is expected to add another layer of accountability to the apple value chain.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.