The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) should procure apple from Himachal through the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) and at rates on par with Kashmir, said Harish Chauhan, president, Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Growers Association of Himachal Pradesh.

Raising the demand, Chauhan also brought out the anomaly in the prices offered to the growers of the two states through MIS. Even though the scheme is same, Kashmiri apple growers get Rs 24for their Grade C variety,while their counterparts in Himachal get only Rs 9.50. The difference is huge. he said.

Not just Grade C, NAFED also buys Grade A and Grade B apple in Kashmir. In Himachal, the MIS is applicable only to Grade C apple. Chauhan said last year, NAFED offered Rs 60 per kg, Rs 44 and Rs 24 for Grade A, B and C, respectively, to Kashmiri growers.