SRINAGAR: The Kashmiri apple orchards and growers are facing a severe crisis following the government’s decision last year to abolish the 20 per cent duty on Washington apples and permit imports from the US, Iran, and South Africa, causing apple prices to plummet from Rs 1200 to Rs 600 per box and delivering a devastating blow to local growers.
People’s Democratic Party Youth President (PDP) Waheed-Ur- Rehman Parra said that this policy change, combined with skyrocketing input costs, now forces Kashmiri farmers to sell their crops at unsustainable prices.
“The influx of cheap foreign apples floods our markets, undermining local produce and endangering the livelihood of our farmers. This situation not only threatens our agricultural economy but also jeopardizes the centuries-old tradition of apple cultivation in Kashmir,” he said.
“We implore the government to institute the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) and, crucially, to impose a 100 per cent import duty on foreign apples immediately,” he added.
“This decisive action is vital to preserve the livelihoods of our apple growers. Notably, while US farmers receive a 32 per cent subsidy, domestic farmers in India are afforded a mere 2.5 per cent, further exacerbating the inequity,” Parra added.
He also said that the government has a solemn duty to safeguard the farmers and their means of subsistence.
“By enforcing a 100 per cent import duty on foreign apples, we can prevent further losses and protect our growers. This is not merely an economic imperative; it is a matter of survival for Kashmiri farmers and the preservation of our heritage,” he said.
“Kashmir’s apple industry is not just an economic backbone but a symbol of our resilience and identity. It is high time the government prioritises the well-being of J&K’s citizens over profit-driven policies and ensures the protection and prosperity of our local growers,” he said.
Parra also said that the only solution to the problem is 100 per cent Import Duty on Foreign Apples to protect the Kashmiri Growers.
