Srinagar: Apple growers in Kashmir have voiced strong concern over India’s decision to reduce customs duty on apple imports from New Zealand under the recently approved Free Trade Agreement (FTA), warning that the move could severely impact the region’s apple-based economy.
Growers said the reduction in import duty from 50 per cent to 25 per cent would make New Zealand apples far more competitive in Indian markets, putting local produce at a disadvantage. They fear that cheaper imports could depress market prices for Kashmiri apples, adversely affecting farmers’ incomes.Under the FTA framework, India will permit the import of up to 32,500 tonnes of apples from New Zealand in the first year, with the quantity set to rise gradually to 45,000 tonnes by the sixth year.
Growers argue that these volumes, combined with the sharply reduced customs duty of just 25 per cent, could significantly impact domestic apple sales, especially during peak marketing seasons.Adding to their worries, growers said the apple sector in Kashmir has already suffered major losses this year due to floods and prolonged blockages of the Jammu Srinagar National Highway, which disrupted transportation and supply chains. According to growers’ estimates, these factors alone have resulted in losses of around ₹12 crore, even in what was otherwise considered a good production year.
“The apple industry is the backbone of Kashmir’s rural economy, supporting lakhs of families. After facing heavy losses due to natural calamities and logistical disruptions, the decision to allow large-scale imports at lower duty could deal a fresh blow to growers,” representatives of apple growers’ bodies said.
They have urged the Union government to review the decision and introduce adequate safeguard measures to protect domestic apple growers, cautioning that without timely intervention, the long-term viability of Kashmir’s apple industry could be seriously undermined.
