India's apple sector is navigating complex challenges due to unregulated plant imports and increased foreign apple shipments. The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union (KVFGDU) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Agriculture Minister to cease apple imports, highlighting the impact on local growers. The KVFGDU noted India's status as a leading apple producer and expressed concern over imports, especially from the United States, affecting growers in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
The union stated, "The horticulture industry of J&K is considered the backbone of the economy, with over seven lakh families directly or indirectly dependent on it." They warned about U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement on 'reciprocal tariffs' from April 2, 2025, which will reduce import duties on Washington apples. This could exacerbate market saturation and displace domestic produce. The union seeks a 100 percent duty on Washington apples to protect local farmers and state revenue.
Concurrently, Himachal Pradesh's horticulture sector faces internal challenges due to apple plant imports lacking proper quarantine. BJP state spokesperson Chetan Singh Bragta criticized the state government for not enforcing the Plant Quarantine Order of 2003, which requires a one-year quarantine for imported plants. He pointed out the emergence of pests like the dog head borer and fruit fly, and viruses linked to unchecked imports.
Bragta accused the state of allowing infected plants into the market and urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to ban infected plant sales and enforce quarantine measures. Growers in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are calling for stronger protections for India's apple industry, integral to millions' livelihoods and the agricultural economy.
Source 1: The News Himachal
Source 2: Kashmir Life