Farmers, horticulturalists, agricultural officials and scientists are optimistic about the proposed Rs 1,000 crore funding by the World Bank for the horticultural post-harvest modernisation project. According to sources, a World Bank team headed by consultants Mani Pathy and A Srivastva held a series of consultation with farmers, government officials and other stakeholders, including government agencies, recently here. “The team had preliminary consultation with various stakeholders and its response was positive,” Principal Secretary, Horticulture, Tarun Shridhar said. “The World Bank will fund Rs 1,000 crore and aims at rejuvenating the horticultural industry by the post-harvest technology,” he said. The project, approved by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, aims to rejig the state’s sick horticulture industry in the next five years. The project would be funded in the ratio of 90:10 by the state and Central governments and seeks to add Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 crore to the Gross State Domestic Product every year, officials revealed. “But apple, the main fruit crop of the state, will get a special focus as the project seeks to increase productivity from the present 7-8 tonnes per hectare to 40 tonnes per hectare to make the apple industry globally competitive,” the officials said. The project aims at setting up post-harvest management techniques, cold chain, processing, marketing and R&D activities, covering new districts of Una and Kangra to tribal Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba, Pangi and Bharmour. It aims at producing hazel nuts, olive, citrus fruit as well as other fruits in low-lying areas. Besides new latest varieties and cultivars of crops such as litchi, guava and kinnow will be encouraged among farmers. Dr Vijay Thakur, Vice-Chancellor, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, said: “The university will provide institutional support providing the certified plant materials on root stocks and other fruit varieties to farmers. We will provide the bud wood bank on imported varieties to multiply and propagate them among farmers.” Farmers need training and inputs from scientists on raising new nurseries and water conservation in the hilly region, value addition such as bee keeping for fruit setting, he said. “The transfer of technology and improvement of production line and best and certified plant material to farmers will be the role of the university,” he added. Prakash Thakur, vice-chairman, HPMC, nodal agency, said: “The team has given a positive response after having consultation with farmers and other stakeholders. The project will benefit farmers in the state and prepare them to make their fruit globally competitive.”