SRINAGAR, Feb 20: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday voiced serious concern over the proposed Indo US trade arrangement, cautioning that granting zero duty access to American apples could severely impact the horticulture sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, she urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impose at least a 50 percent import duty on apples from the United States to shield domestic producers from what she described as unfair competition.
Mufti said the removal of protective duties would disproportionately affect Jammu and Kashmir, where horticulture remains the backbone of the rural economy. She noted that it is difficult to precisely measure the scale of the potential damage, but maintained that the consequences for fruit growers, particularly apple and dry fruit producers, would be deeply adverse. According to her, the economic structure of the Union Territory is heavily reliant on orchards, and any policy shift that weakens this sector would have cascading effects.
Recalling her earlier communication with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Mufti said she had cautioned against free trade arrangements that allow duty free imports either from the United States or under previous agreements with the European Union. She stressed that such measures would not only affect Jammu and Kashmir but also have implications for growers in Himachal Pradesh, another major apple producing region.
Highlighting the scale of dependence on horticulture, Mufti said lakhs of families and millions of young people are directly or indirectly linked to the cultivation of apples, walnuts and almonds. She pointed out that many of these youth do not fall within Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe or OBC categories and depend primarily on orchard based livelihoods. In the absence of large scale industries in Jammu and Kashmir, she argued, weakening the fruit economy would inevitably intensify unemployment.
Drawing a comparison with American agricultural support systems, Mufti said growers in the United States benefit from substantial subsidies and strong insurance coverage. She claimed that American farmers receive significant financial assistance and are protected against natural disasters, disease outbreaks, trade losses and market fluctuations through government backed compensation. In contrast, she said, farmers in Jammu and Kashmir receive minimal support, modest financial aid and limited insurance protection, while also bearing costs related to electricity, fertilisers and pesticides.
Mufti further underlined the infrastructural challenges faced by local growers, including inadequate cold storage facilities, fragile food supply chains, frequent road disruptions and high transportation expenses. These structural limitations, she said, increase production costs and reduce competitiveness in national and international markets.
Warning of broader social consequences, Mufti remarked that the fruit industry forms the backbone of economic stability in the region. She observed that after 2019, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have shown resilience despite multiple hardships. However, she cautioned that undermining the horticulture sector could have serious social implications, including rising unemployment and increasing vulnerability among youth.
Appealing to the Prime Minister to reconsider the proposed trade terms, Mufti called for the imposition of a 50 percent import duty on foreign apples and urged the government to strengthen crop insurance, enhance infrastructure and provide meaningful financial support to growers. She maintained that safeguarding the horticulture sector is not merely an economic necessity but a crucial step toward ensuring social stability and sustainable development in Jammu and Kashmir.