Programme design
The Himachal Apple Market Intervention Scheme is the state-level operational arm of the central Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) administered by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Each year, when modal mandi prices for Himachal apple fall below a remunerative floor, the state government and the centre jointly sanction MIS procurement at a notified support price for grade C and culled (process-grade) apple. The procurement is executed by Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing & Processing Corporation (HPMC) and HIMFED (cooperative arm) and processed into juice concentrate, vinegar and pulp.
Geographic coverage
- Shimla (core district — Kotgarh, Theog, Jubbal, Kotkhai)
- Kullu
- Kinnaur
- Mandi
- Chamba
- Sirmaur
- Lahaul-Spiti (high-altitude)
Benefit structure
- HPMC and HIMFED procurement of grade C and culled apple at the notified MIS support price for the season.
- Support price is reset annually before the harvest window (typically July — September); base rate around ₹12/kg for C-grade apple in 2024 with a hike notified for FY 2025-26 — verify the latest GO from the Department of Horticulture HP.
- Cost shared ~50:50 between Centre (Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare) and the state.
- Procurement collection centres opened across the apple belt; sale via HPMC / HIMFED weighbridge slips.
Eligibility
- Orchard registered with the Department of Horticulture, HP.
- Sale at an HPMC or HIMFED collection centre within the notified procurement window.
- Grade C or culled (process-grade) apple — the MIS does not cover Grade A or extra-fancy apple which commands premium open-market price.
- FPO or cooperative marketing society registration allowed for aggregated sale.
- Aadhaar-seeded bank account for DBT payment.
How to apply — step by step
- Register the orchard with the Department of Horticulture, HP (block-level orchard registration is recurring).
- Track the MIS support-price notification from hpagriculture.com and hpmc.hp.gov.in before the harvest window.
- On harvest, sort apple into Grade A (for open-market sale), Grade C / culled (for MIS).
- Transport C-grade apple to the nearest HPMC / HIMFED collection centre within the procurement window.
- Receive the weighbridge slip; HPMC / HIMFED grades, weighs and issues the procurement receipt.
- Payment credited via DBT to the Aadhaar-seeded bank account within 30–60 days.
Latest changes (2024 — 2026)
- 2024 harvest: MIS support price retained around the ₹12/kg base with a small uplift on the previous year; ~88 collection centres opened across the apple belt.
- March 2025: HPMC modernised its juice concentrate plants at Parwanoo, Jarol-Tikkari and Patli Kuhal to absorb higher MIS volumes; convergence with PMFME for micro food-processing.
- August 2025: Support-price revision announced ahead of harvest window; verify the latest figure from the Department of Horticulture HP press note and PIB release.
- 2025-26: Exact FY 2025-26 MIS outlay not published as of 2025-26 — state-share figure tabled in HP Vidhan Sabha replies.
Common rejection reasons + appeal
- Sale outside MIS window: only sale within the notified procurement window qualifies.
- Grade A apple offered: MIS is for grade C and culled apple only; Grade A goes through open-market or FPO channels.
- Sale at non-MIS centre: sale at private mandi or farm-gate is not eligible.
- Orchard not registered: orchard registration with the Department of Horticulture is a prerequisite.
- Aadhaar — bank seeding failure: DBT credit fails on NPCI side.
Grievance: HPMC / HIMFED centre manager → District Horticulture Officer → Department of Horticulture HP Director. Written appeal to DHO within 30 days. PIB press notes and CM Office releases provide the latest MIS rate and any mid-season revision.
How Apple MIS stacks with other schemes
Apple MIS is a price-floor rail for process-grade apple. Parallel central rails: MIDH (orchard renovation, high-density apple, fencing), PMFME (micro food-processing units), AIF (CA-store, pack-house infrastructure with 3% interest subvention), Anti-Hail Net (orchard hail protection), HP-SHIVA (sub-tropical horticulture in low-mid hills), PMFBY and RWBCIS for weather-indexed insurance.
Coverage statistics
HP apple output ranges from 5–8 lakh MT in a normal year; MIS procurement absorbs the process-grade fraction (typically 1–2 lakh MT) in low-modal-price years. Exact MT and rupee figures per FY are tabled in HP Vidhan Sabha replies and the Economic Survey of Himachal Pradesh.
Related
- Himachal Pradesh state guide.
- Anti-Hail Net — orchard protection.
- Apple crop guide.