The Himachal government plans to partner with Italian companies to establish nurseries in the state to address declining apple production. The government aims to provide affordable hybrid saplings to fruit growers in Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, reducing the need for importing saplings. The state government will identify suitable land for apple cultivation and expects the nurseries to improve survival rates. The state s apple economy is valued at ₹6,000 crore ($847 million).