Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday, 1 October 2026, announced a ₹1 per kg increase in apple procurement prices under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) and a hike in milk support prices effective 1 December 2026, framing both moves as part of a sustained push to strengthen the state's rural economy. The announcements were made at a public meeting in Chirgaon in the Rohru Assembly constituency.

Apple and Milk Price Revisions

Under the revised MIS rates, apples procured by the government will now fetch ₹13 per kg, up from the earlier ₹12 per kg — a ₹1 per kg increase aimed at improving returns for apple growers who depend heavily on the scheme during glut years. The government had already raised milk support prices on earlier occasions; the forthcoming December 1 revision is intended to further improve earnings for livestock farmers and dairy producers across the state.

Sukhu said the government had also introduced a universal carton system for apple growers and was extending support prices specifically for naturally grown produce, signalling a broader effort to move growers up the value chain.

Education Reforms Highlighted

The Chief Minister used the public meeting to highlight what he called a transformation in Himachal Pradesh's education sector, claiming the state had climbed from 21st to 5th in national rankings on education quality. The government has introduced English-medium education from Class I in government schools and has opened more than 150 CBSE-affiliated schools to arrest declining enrolment in state-run institutions.

Citing a specific example from Rohru, Sukhu said student enrolment at one school rose by more than 500 within a year of adopting the CBSE curriculum. He added that 1,500 teachers had been appointed across these schools. The government is additionally developing 300 Schools of Excellence to deliver quality education closer to rural communities, reducing parents' dependence on costly private institutions.

Dig at Previous BJP Government

Sukhu took a pointed swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration that preceded his government, alleging it had directed state resources toward industrialists rather than ordinary citizens. He also alleged that the previous BJP government had constructed offices worth more than ₹1,000 crore in the state.

'As long as I am the Chief Minister, I will neither allow the state's resources to be looted nor allow anyone to loot them,' Sukhu said, urging the gathering to back the government's anti-corruption drive. Responding to BJP questions about the Chief Minister's Office, he maintained it belonged to the people and served as a platform for addressing public grievances.

What This Means for Farmers

Himachal Pradesh's apple belt — centred on districts such as Shimla, Kullu, and Kinnaur — produces the bulk of India's temperate-zone apple output. The MIS is invoked when market prices fall below a threshold, with the government stepping in as a buyer of last resort. A higher floor rate directly cushions growers against price crashes during bumper harvest seasons. The milk support revision, meanwhile, targets a distinct but equally vulnerable constituency: small and marginal livestock rearers in the state's hill districts.

With assembly elections on the horizon and rural distress a persistent theme in Himachal politics, both announcements carry economic as well as political weight. The government's next steps on implementation timelines and procurement logistics will be closely watched by farmer bodies.