Jai Ram Thakur, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, launches the Apple Festival in the state.
Himachal Apple Festival Boosts Local Economy and Agriculture
The Himachal Apple Festival, held annually in Shimla, is a significant event that celebrates the economic importance of apple cultivation in Himachal Pradesh. Known as the "Apple Garden of India," Shimla produces a large volume of apples for commercial sale, with about ninety percent of these apples sold domestically [1].
This two-day festival is a platform for showcasing the various varieties of Shimla apples, promoting new orchard varieties, and facilitating networking among growers and industry professionals. The event aims to support business growth and innovation in apple cultivation [1].
The festival also benefits the local economy by attracting both local and international visitors. Events such as apple-based cooking contests, orchard tours, games, and competitions create additional local economic activities. By promoting apples and the region’s horticulture, the festival helps increase demand and market visibility for Shimla’s apples, thereby boosting farmers' incomes and stimulating the local agrarian economy [1].
The Himachal Apple Festival is not just a celebration of apples, but also a reflection of the state's heavy reliance on apple production. In fact, the state government announced plans to provide quality inputs to help apple growers increase production at the Apple Festival-2020 [2]. The festival was jointly organized by the state Tourism and Horticulture departments [3].
The Apple Festival-2020 was marked by several notable events. Jai Ram Thakur, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, attended the festival. A huge apple cake was prepared for the occasion, which entered the India Book of Records as the biggest apple cake [4]. Shivankita Kanwar, Deepanshi Thakur, Yogesh, and Vanshika Katoch were crowned Apple Prince, Princess, King, and Queen respectively on the occasion [5].
The festival also emphasized apple cultivation and orchards as potential tourist attractions. The theme for the World Tourism Day celebrations in the state was 'Himachal Apple Festival,' highlighting the importance of apple cultivation [6]. The apple growers were encouraged to adopt new varieties of apple to compete with produce from other parts of the country and abroad [7].
In conclusion, the Himachal Apple Festival is a vital platform for celebrating and promoting the state’s primary fruit crop, fostering industry networking, stimulating tourism, and ultimately boosting the local agrarian economy through enhanced apple trade and related activities. This contributes significantly to sustaining apple growers’ livelihoods and supporting the regional economy dependent on apple cultivation [1].
References: [1] India Today [2] The Tribune [3] Himachal Watcher [4] India Book of Records [5] Himachal Watcher [6] Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation [7] Himachal Watcher
- The Himachal Apple Festival, recognized for its impact on both agriculture and tourism, not only showcases various apple varieties but also promotes fashion-and-beauty by featuring local apple-based beauty products and home-and-garden décor pieces made from apple wood.
- In addition to boosting the local economy, the Himachal Apple Festival also encourages travel, inviting visitors to explore the food-and-drink scene by sampling regional apple dishes during culinary demonstrations, orchard tours, and wine tastings, showcasing the area's unique fusion of apple cultivation and gastronomy.
