Education Minister Rohit Thakur has sharply criticised the Union Government’s decision to reduce import duty on apples from New Zealand, calling it a serious setback for Himachal Pradesh’s orchardists and a blow to the state’s apple-based economy.
Reacting to the reduction of import duty from 50 percent to 25 percent under the Free Trade Agreement, Thakur said the move reflects an anti-farmer and anti-horticulture approach. He stressed that apple cultivation forms the backbone of Himachal’s hill economy and supports lakhs of families, warning that weakening domestic growers would push them into economic distress.
He said repeated assurances given by the Centre to protect apple growers have not translated into action. Highlighting the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), Thakur pointed out that the Centre effectively withdrew its financial support from 2023 onwards by drastically cutting budgetary allocation, rendering the scheme ineffective. This, he said, deprived growers of a crucial safety net, especially for cull apples.
Despite financial constraints and natural challenges, Thakur said the Himachal Pradesh Government has continued to support orchardists by releasing nearly Rs. 160 crore from its own resources over the past three years for procurement under MIS, even covering liabilities left by the previous regime.
Warning of long-term consequences, the Minister said the FTA with New Zealand could open the door to further duty reductions for other apple-exporting nations, placing Indian growers at a severe disadvantage. He also flagged concerns over cheaper imports from Iran and Afghanistan, noting that current safeguards like Minimum Import Price have failed to protect domestic producers.
Thakur said the cost of apple production in Himachal is around Rs. 45 per kg, while imported apples could enter markets at much lower prices, threatening the state’s Rs. 5,000-crore apple economy. He added that allowing imports during the April–August window would coincide with Himachal’s harvest season, depressing prices and harming growers.
Criticising the BJP leadership in the state, Thakur said they failed to raise Himachal’s concerns at the national level. He demanded immediate corrective steps from the Centre, including rolling back the duty cut, restoring higher import duties and reviving the Centre’s share in the MIS. He asserted that Himachal would strongly oppose any policy that sacrifices its orchardists’ interests.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
