Jubbal-Kotkhai MLA Rohit Thakur, along with several other apple growers, has submitted a memorandum to governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, seeking higher import duties on apples and wanting to increase the support price of the fruit.
The Congress MLA said that the Rs 50 bln (€600 mln) apple economy was passing through a crisis and urgently required government help. “The packaging material cost has increased by almost 40 per cent. The government should regulate the prices of packaging materials. The 18 per cent GST on packaging material needs to be reduced to provide relief to apple growers,” he added.
He said that the prices of insecticides and pesticides, which had risen drastically, also need to be controlled. “As promised, the government must enhance import duty on apple and put it in the special category product so that the apple growers do not face a stiff competition from imported fruit being sold at lower prices,” he added.
Source: tribuneindia.com