Solan (Himachal Pradesh), May 8 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday launched a online portal of local fruit and vegetable market that will enable the farmers to sell their produce directly to wholesale buyers.

He said state's two prominent vegetable and fruit markets -- one in Solan and other in Shimla -- have been linked online with the National Vegetable Market Portal, which would facilitate the timely and online sale and purchase of the produce of the farmers.

Virbhadra Singh said the farmers would get adequate price for their produce and would be able to know the day-to-day rates of fruits and vegetables of national markets while the payments would directly be deposited in their bank accounts.

Himachal Pradesh annually earns Rs.2,500 crore from the cultivation of vegetables, while horticulture generates more than Rs.3,200 crore annually.

The cultivation of exotic vegetables and flowers in poly-houses and setting up of controlled atmosphere chains is expected to add to earnings for growers.