Jai Ram Thakur, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, launches the Himachal Apple Festival.
In the picturesque state of Himachal Pradesh, the annual Apple Festival serves as a celebration of the region's primary agricultural product and a boon for tourism. The event, held in Shimla, showcased the significance of apples in the state's socio-economic fabric and as a tourism magnet during the harvest season.
The Apple Festival, organised jointly by the state Tourism and Horticulture departments, was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur, at Gaiety Theatre. The event highlighted the crucial role of apple cultivation in the state's economy, with apples being a major contributor to the horticulture sector and providing income for a large section of the rural population, particularly in districts like Shimla, Kullu, and Kinnaur.
Himachal Pradesh is among India's leading apple producers, and apples are an important commercial fruit crop driving both local trade and exports. The apple industry supports many allied businesses, including packaging, transportation, and marketing, making it a vital economic driver for the state.
The festival also served as a cultural and economic event, showcasing the apple orchards and related products. Farmers and artisans displayed and sold apples and apple-based products, offering visitors a taste of local flavors and handicrafts. The scenic beauty of apple orchards in bloom or harvest attracted tourists interested in agro-tourism, creating a unique agritourism attraction that complements Himachal Pradesh’s established hill station tourism.
The festival boosted local hospitality, food stalls, and cultural programs, contributing to broader tourism growth in the region. The Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur, emphasised the importance of adopting new apple varieties to compete with produce from other regions and encouraged apple growers to adopt the latest technologies in apple cultivation.
The festival's theme for World Tourism Day celebration underscored the importance of apple cultivation to the state's economy. To mark the occasion, a huge apple cake, measuring 4.5 feet into 3.5 feet and weighing over 200 kg, was prepared and entered the India Book of Records as the biggest Apple cake.
The climatic conditions of Himachal Pradesh are also suitable for floriculture, with farmers adopting it in large numbers. The Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur, noted that horticulturists in the state are adopting the latest technologies, which is beneficial for them. The state government will provide quality inputs to help apple growers increase production, further bolstering the apple industry's contribution to the state's economy.
In conclusion, the Apple Festival in Himachal Pradesh not only promotes apple production but also leverages apple farming as an attraction that enriches the tourism sector. This event supports rural development and the state economy, making it a significant event in the state's calendar each year.
The Apple Festival in Himachal Pradesh, beyond celebrating apple production, also serves as a platform for local food-and-drink businesses to showcase and sell apple-based products, offering visitors a taste of regional flavors.
The state's Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur, during his address at the festival, emphasized the significance of apple cultivation in the state's home-and-garden sector and future focus on adopting new varieties and technologies to remain competitive in the market.
