Himachal's market yard at Rohru flops

Among the numerous small market yards in Himachal Pradesh’s apple belt, the most promising has been the market at Rohru, but it has come out as a failure in last couple of years, say farmers.

Six years ago, when this market complex was launched by the state government, optimism made the farmers believe that it would emerge as the leading yard in Shimla, a district which accounts for 80 per cent of apple production in the hill state.

A couple of years back, the state witnessed a bumper apple crop and Rohru attracting the produce of farmers from neighbouring orchards. Wholesale buyers from Uttar Pradesh thronged this small town in large numbers. Scores of temporary outlets were set up here by local entrepreneurs (commission agents).

 

Another major advantage of this market was its proximity to neighbouring Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

But farmers say in the last two years this market has seen a downslide.

This year apple is fetching the lowest price in Rohru, often Rs 300 to Rs 400 less than others in the area while other smaller markets like Narkanda and Theog have surged ahead offering far higher returns to farmers.

Markets in Shimla, Solan and neighbouring Chandigarh have been around for much longer. They have a much higher intake capacity and are offering much more remunerative returns to apple farmers, say people involved in apple trade.

Kharapathar is another small market to emerge in the apple belt and was formally opened this year by the state government with much fanfare. Business at Kharapathar will actually start next year when all the shops are auctioned to commission agents.