Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu has criticized the Indian government’s recent decision to reduce the import duty on Washington apples from 70 to 50 per cent, calling it detrimental to the interests of apple growers in the state. Media reports suggest that the farmers had long asked for an increase in import duty on all types of foreign apples from 70 to 100 per cent. Instead, the centre has reportedly gone the other way by reducing the import duty on Washington apples. Sukhu argues that this move is against the interests of the apple growers as well as the state’s economy. He has vowed to take up the matter with the Indian government, demanding a 100 per cent import duty on all foreign apples.
The issue of foreign apple imports has been a contentious one in Himachal Pradesh for years, as apple is the state’s largest cash crop, and the income of thousands of farmers depends on this crop. Consequently, the Chief Minister’s opposition to the Union government’s decision followed widespread protests by farmers in the state, highlighting the need for protectionism of their interests.
As per reports, during the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to protect the interests of apple growers by increasing the import duty on foreign apples and requiring five per cent apple concentrate be blended in all types of cold drinks. However, after almost two years of the reduction in duty on Washington apples, farmers remain apprehensive.
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress in the state has reportedly accused the BJP government of abandoning apple farmers in the face of free trade agreements and succumbing to pressure from foreign trade lobbies. State Congress president Kuldeep Rathore has called on the state government to work out policies that safeguard the interests of apple farmers and provide them with the necessary support for the promotion of their apple crop.
It remains to be seen how the Indian government will address the concerns raised by the Chief Minister and others in the apple-farming community in the state. For now, as Washington apples continue to flood into the Indian market, many are apprehensive about what this could mean for the livelihoods of thousands of small apple growers in Himachal Pradesh.
