On Monday, the Indian federal government imposed a ban on the import of apples where the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) import price is less than or equal to Rs 50 per kilogram. This move that may hit shipments of the fruit from Iran, UAE, Afghanistan.
Government sources said that China too would be impacted, although official data showed negligible imports from across the border. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced the decision to move apples that cost up to Rs 50 a kg (including cost, insurance and freight) from "free" to "prohibited" category, while making an exception for Bhutan.
According to timesofindia.indiatimes.com, the ban has come based on a recommendation from the agriculture ministry, sources said. The amendment to the trade policy comes during the lean season for apples.
At the higher end of the market, Washington apples and those from Turkey have flooded the market in recent years. During the last financial year, apple imports were valued at nearly $300 million, around 24% lower than the previous year.
Big relief for Kashmir fruit growers
The ban is a big relief for apple growers of Kashmir. The central government has changed its import policy for apples and created a Minimum Import Price (MIP), which is an import price ceiling, to safeguard the interests of the country's apple growers. This is a significant step that is sure to cheer up Kashmir's apple farmers.
This decision came after Iranian apple imports during the last two years have hit the rates of Kashmiri apples.
[ Rs100 = €1.10 ]
Source: greaterkashmir.com