Himachal to market apple waste manure

October 11th, 2009 SHIMLA - The decline in apple cultivation in Himachal Pradesh has left apple concentrate production by the state's horticulture department high and dry. The total apple production this season will be around 18 million boxes of 25 kg each, considerably less than last year's 26 million crates, Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta said.

September 23rd, 2009 KOTKHAI - Hundreds of apple farmers are facing trouble in Himachal Pradesh, as their produce is not able to reach markets on time due to bad road conditions in Kotkhai subdivision of Shimla. The cultivators complain that potholes on the roads and landslips are not taken care due to which the apple-loaded trucks get stuck in long jams.

September 23rd, 2009 SHIMLA - The apple season in Himachal Pradesh has finally picked up with 7,400,000 boxes having been transported out of the state. "The apple season is in full swing and 74 lakh boxes have reached various markets in the country.

September 6th, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh wants higher import duty on apple juice concentrate from China, saying this was necessary to save the domestic industry. Apple concentrate is used for fruit juices, nectars and drinks.

September 5th, 2009 SHIMLA - An exhibition of apples was organised at Kotkhai, 60 kilometres off Shimla, to showcase special varieties of the fruit and promote them among the orchard owners and growers. The exhibition happened to mark the silver jubilee of the annual Apple Show in which 452 farmers exhibited 30 advanced varieties of apples.

September 3rd, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh will hold a two-day apple festival here from Oct 3 to promote the fruit it is famous for, Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop said Thursday. "The state government in collaboration with the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) is holding an 'Apple Festival-09' in Shimla Oct 3 to 4," Swaroop told IANS.

August 31st, 2009 SHIMLA - The low apple crop production in Himachal Pradesh has led to loss of business and unemployment in the state. Many people have been left jobless in the state, as apple crop production has come down by almost seventy five percent.

August 1st, 2009 SHIMLA - Train travellers will soon be able to quaff apple juice from Himachal Pradesh with Indian Railways deciding to serve it on important trains, state Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta said Saturday. "The state government and the railways have reached an understanding under which packaged juices made from Himachal Pradesh apples would be provided to the passengers," Bragta told reporters.

July 23rd, 2009 Manure means money to handlers gathered in IowaBOONE, Iowa — For the folks who make a living spreading manure on farm fields, the business end of hogs, cows and chickens can be a gold mine. More than 1.3 million tons of manure is applied as fertilizer each year to about 15.8 million acres of farmland in the U.S., according to the U.S.

July 21st, 2009 SHIMLA - Apple growers in Shimla are a worried lot as scant rainfall has hit apple yield. "No use of the rains as majority of our crop has ruined.

July 4th, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh has requested the central government to increase the import duty on apple juice concentrate to save the domestic industry. Himachal Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta Saturday met Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma in New Delhi and apprised him of the threats to this sector from Chinese companies, a state government statement said.

May 23rd, 2009 KULLU - The apple crop in Kullu has been affected due to lack of adequate snowfall and rains in Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. A good crop of apples requires an average of 1200-1600 'chilling hours', adequate snowfall and rainfall, and suitable temperature at the time of flowering, which this year were unfavourable.

May 11th, 2009 KATHUA - Farmers in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir have started using bio vermi compost instead of chemical fertilizers. The compost is eco-friendly and supports the nutrients in the soil.

March 14th, 2009 SIRMOUR - Ginger farmers and traders in Himachal Pradesh have sought minimum support price fixed by the Government so as to directly export their produce. Bella valley in Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh is famous for producing varieties of quality ginger and the people mainly depend on cultivating ginger for their livelihood.

January 6th, 2009 SHIMLA - Farmers and horticulture experts are hoping that the light to moderate snowfall in the mid hills of Himachal Pradesh during the past few days after a long dry spell would ensure a good apple harvest this year too. 'The onset of the snowfall season in the apple-growing belt would prove to be a boon for farmers.