Shimla : Nabard has sanctioned Rs 418.02 lakh to state-run Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corp (HPMC) under the Warehousing Infrastructure Fund for construction of controlled atmospheric store in Chamba district, it was announced on Monday.

Nabard’s assistance towards this project would provide a storage capacity of 500 tonnes, the lender said in a statement here.

With the construction of the controlled atmospheric store, fruit growers of the district would be able to store their produce and sell at a better price.

Apple constitutes about 93 percent of the total fruit production in the state.

Besides apples, other fruits like cherries, pears, peaches, apricots, kiwis, strawberries, olives, almonds and plums are the major commercial crops of the state.

—IANS