Shimla, Sept. 12 -- A video of apple farmers throwing their produce into a drain in Rampur, Himachal Pradesh, has gone viral on social media, highlighting the plight of orchardists in the monsoon-hit region.
The incident was reported from Sheela village under Addu panchayat in Nankhari (Shimla district), where farmers Dev Raj, Ramesh, Ramesh Thakur and Amit were seen discarding C-grade apples. Growers alleged that the government undertaking HPMC failed to purchase their stock under the Mandi Intervention Scheme (MIS).
Panchayat Pradhan Pinku Khand said orchardists had long been demanding that HPMC set up a local procurement centre. "If this is not done, we will be forced to take to the streets. Farmers are already reeling under natural ca...