Growers call for ban on imports from other countries as well

Srinagar, May 19: In a positive development for local apple farmers, the ongoing boycott of Turkish apples in Indian markets has brought renewed hope to fruit growers in Kashmir, India’s leading apple-producing region.

For years, apple growers across the valley have faced declining prices, rising input costs and stiff competition from cheaper imported apples, especially from Turkey and Iran. The influx of low-cost foreign produce often flooded Indian markets just before the local harvest, forcing farmers to sell their apples at significantly reduced prices.

However, the recent decision by traders to boycott Turkish apples has boosted the morale of Kashmir’s fruit growers, who believe this move will help increase the prices of locally produced apples.

Basheer Ahmad Basheer, President of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Union, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that this initiative will benefit lakhs of fruit growers across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

He said Turkish apples have been present in Indian markets for a long time and are preferred over Iranian varieties due to their perceived better quality. In the 2023–2024 period, India imported approximately 11.76 lakh tonnes of apples from Turkey, creating direct competition for domestic producers and leading to decreased demand for local produce.

Basheer said that although Turkish apples were not imported in large quantities, their presence was sufficient to impact local sales negatively. He expressed hope that if the boycott remains effective, it will enable local growers to sell their apples at better prices.

Meanwhile, growers from different areas of Kashmir have welcomed the move but said that imports from other countries such as the United States, Iran and Afghanistan should also be halted. Such measures would help local farmers receive fair returns, they said.

Apple farmers in Kashmir have consistently urged the central government to impose a 100 per cent import duty on apples from countries like the US, Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan. They contend that the influx of cheaper, often subsidised foreign apples undercuts the market, drives down prices and threatens the livelihoods of thousands of local farmers.

However, growers are concerned about recent reports suggesting India may further ease or eliminate import levies on US apples as part of reciprocal trade agreements dating back to the Trump administration. “Such policy shifts could flood the Indian market with low-cost American apples and push local producers out of competition and causing significant harm to the region’s horticultural sector,” the growers said.

Jammu and Kashmir produce over 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, supporting the livelihoods of nearly seven lakh families. The region not only stands as India’s largest apple producer but also plays a vital role in the country’s horticultural economy—(KNO)