Shimla apple growers worried; budget disrupted by hike in laborers’ wages.

Shimla: Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla district are facing a new challenge. Even before the apple season begins, growers are grappling with rising daily wage demands from laborers for harvesting (picking) and packing. In many areas, laborers are demanding up to ₹900 per day, raising concerns among growers about increased production costs.

Key stages in apple production include harvesting, pruning, packing, and transporting the produce to the market. These tasks require a large number of skilled laborers. However, the hike in wage rates this year has heightened anxiety among small and medium-scale growers.

Growers point out that they are already contending with the rising costs of fertilizers, pesticides, packaging materials, transportation, and other agricultural expenses. Consequently, the increase in labor wages will further drive up the total cost of apple production. They worry that if market prices are not remunerative, their profit margins could suffer.

On the other hand, laborers argue that working in hilly terrain is arduous and involves risks, particularly during the apple-picking season. Citing the challenges posed by the weather, the nature of work in high-altitude areas, and the short duration of the season, they are demanding better wages.

Experts in the apple trade believe that labor availability and rising costs could become major issues in the upcoming season. Many growers are now exploring alternative methods alongside arranging for local labor.

The livelihoods of thousands of families in Shimla and surrounding apple-growing regions depend on this trade. Striking a balance between wage rates and production costs remains a significant challenge for the growers.

Officials from the administration and the Horticulture Department are also monitoring the situation. Growers hope the government will devise a system that ensures fair wages for laborers without imposing an undue financial burden on the farmers.