Himachal Pradesh horticulture minister Narinder Bragta said on Thursday that the state government would constitute a committee as per international standards for making viable use of standard universal cartons for marketing of apples.

He was presiding over a high-level meeting with representatives of fruit-grower associations and progressive farmers to discuss the utility of standard universal cartons in the state. This was informed to FnB News over the phone by an official from the state government.

The official further said, "The committee would give its suggestions on using cartons as per international standard for marketing of apples after taking the views and suggestions of fruit-growers of the state."

According to the official, the minister said that the state had stepped into international markets and it was necessary that the fruit-growers be ready to keep abreast with the ongoing competition from China, America and European countries.

The state government had already taken effective steps for helping fruit-growers of the state so that they could compete in international market. He added that it was an important issue and the state government was committed to protect the rights of fruit-growers and an amicable decision would be taken with consensus of fruit-growers' associations and other progressive farmers.

The minister said that various important decisions had been taken during the past four years for the welfare of fruit-growers. The Weather-based Crop Insurance Scheme had been started in 27 blocks to compensate the losses caused to apple- and mango-growers of the state due to vagaries of nature. Similarly, anti-hail and radar gun systems had been set up in Shimla district on pilot basis to prevent the menace of hailstorm.