Concerns Mount as Import Duty Reduction on Washington Apples Worries Kashmir’s Apple Growers

04-07-2023 : The recent decision by the Central government to reduce the import duty on Washington apples has left apple growers and traders in the Kashmir Valley deeply concerned. The import duty on Washington apples, which was previously set at 70 percent, has now been lowered to 50 percent. This move has sparked worries among the apple growers and traders in the apple-producing states of India.

Bashir Ahmad, the president of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealer’s Association, expressed his dismay at the reduction in import duty, stating that a 20 percent decrease is significant and will undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on the apple industry. The local growers fear that consumers will opt for imported high-quality Washington apples over locally produced apples when both are available at similar prices.

One of the challenges faced by the local apple growers is that the Washington apples arrive in Indian markets at a time when the local produce is already being sold. This timing disadvantage, coupled with the perceived superiority of Washington apples, puts the local growers at a competitive disadvantage. Mohammad Ashraf Wani, a prominent apple grower and former president of the Fruit Mandi Shopian, acknowledged that the local produce cannot compete with the high quality of Washington apples. He emphasized that it was the high import duty that previously provided protection for the local farmers.

The apple industry in the region has already been grappling with various crises in recent years, resulting in substantial losses for local growers and traders. Unseasonal snowfall, prolonged lockdowns, and frequent closures of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway have taken a toll on the apple industry, causing significant financial setbacks for those involved.