The Centre government’s decision to hike import duty of apples and other items from United States (US) has brought cheers to the apple farmers in Himachal Pradesh.
Now the duty on apples imported from US will be 75 per cent, while from the other countries will be 50 per cent import duty.
This has brought cheers to the farmers as the apple economy of the state is already grappling with low production since last few years in face of vagaries of nature and also due to the fact that apples imported were giving a stiff competition.
Not with standing the present move of hiking import duty of apples of a solitary country (US), the farmer organisations are demanding that similar hike in import duty should also be extended to other countries as well.
The US apples that were imported in large quantity had gained popularity in India under the brand name of ‘Washington Apples’ and the revised tariff is likely to come into effect from 4 August this year.
Various farmer organisations in Himachal had been clamouring for the hike in import duty of apples from various countries since the last over one decade that was affecting lakhs of apple farmers in getting remunerative price for their apple crop.
“The hike in import duty of ‘Washington Apples’ is a positive move that will benefit the apple belt of the state, especially the lower belt as the harvest of apples clashes with the harvest of Washington Apples that flood the Indian markets,” said Kuldeep Tanwar president Himachal Kisan Sabha, a leftist wing fighting for the cause of farmer community in Himachal.
Purportedly, it is seen as a retaliatory move, however, it should also be ensured that there is no back door entry of the US apples, to route through other countries, he added.
Fruit Vegetables and Flowers Growers Association Himachal Pradesh president Harish Chauhan appreciating the efforts of the government at the centre and said that the hike in import duty will benefit the apple farmers.
The association has been demanding hike in import duty of apples from the successive governments in the state as well as the Centre, he said, adding that the hike in import duty of apples should also be extended to other around 44 apple producing countries.
In India after Kashmir, Himachal contributes 40 per cent of the total apple production in the country.
Kashmir contributes with 50 per cent of total production.
Annually the apple economy of Himachal is estimated at around 4000 crore, constituting about 49 per cent of total fruit crop in the state. Around 1.5 lakh families associated with apple production.
Shimla district tops the production in the state about 70 percent, followed by Kullu and Kinnaur.
Apple is also produced in the high hills of Chamba, Sirmaur and Mandi.
The year 2010 had witnessed a record production of apples in the state, when around 5 crore boxes were produced.
The lowest production was recorded in 2011 with only 1.37 crore boxes.