Demands intervention of the government to safeguard the interests of local fruit growers.
J&K Kisan Tehreek on Friday urged the government to ban illegal import of Iranian apple and dry fruit which is being imported under the garb of Afghan apples through Wagah Border. It sought the intervention of the Lieutenant Governor to safeguard the interests of local fruit growers.
Ghulam Nabi Malik, General Secretary Kisan Tehreek, said that the “Iranian Apple via Afghanistan is imported by various traders and its illegal sale thereof is made in India, as there is zero import duty which is severely hitting our business and causing huge losses to local fruit growers.” The illegal import of Iranian Apple is eating the share of Kashmiri apple and inflicting losses upon fruit growers.
The import of dry fruit had already badly affected the production and the market of Kashmir dry fruit. Same is the case with the world famous Kashmir Saffron. Now the GOI is importing the fresh fruit particularly the apple from Iran and some other countries, providing them the facility of Excise and other tax rebate which makes it cheaper in the Indian market. Such a step has badly squeezed the market for Kashmir apple which is more than 3 crore boxes yet to be marketed.
If such a policy is not changed the Kashmir horticulture sector will be badly hit. It is at a time when the Modi government has promised to double the peasant economy and their profit. Therefore, the government should intervene and ensure that the remaining apple of Kashmir is sold at profitable prices.
He demanded a ban on Iranian Apple and its illegal sale in our country to safeguard the interest of fruit growers of Kashmir.