Apple traders in Pune have intensified their protest against apple imports from Turkey, following that country's criticism of India's strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. The protest took a dramatic turn when traders at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (Marketyard) threw Turkish apples on the road, expressing their anger.
Suyog Zende, a fruit trader at Marketyard, reported receiving a threatening voice message from Pakistan. "I started getting calls on my phone, but I did not pick up. Later, I received a voice note with slurs against India, claiming we cannot harm Pakistan or Turkey," Zende told reporters. The traders are now planning to meet the Pune police commissioner for further action.
The decision to stop importing apples from Turkey was a direct response to Turkey's criticism of India's actions in Pakistan. According to Zende, traders in Pune import apples, litchi, plum, cherry, and dry fruits from Turkey, with apple imports alone valued at approximately ₹1,200 crore annually.
The protest has found strong support in Himachal Pradesh, where apple growers are demanding a complete ban on apple imports from Turkey, as well as from Iran, Iraq, and China. Jairam Thakur, Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh, expressed solidarity with the farmers, stating that India should treat Turkey the same way it treats Pakistan in response to hostile actions. "India had helped Turkey during the earthquake, but now it behaves this way. If Turkey's drones are being used against India, the import of Turkish apples should be completely stopped," Thakur said.
Young apple growers in Himachal Pradesh, including Ankit Bramta from Jubbal, have also raised their voices. Bramta, an MBA graduate and former software engineer who turned to apple farming, argued that this is the right time to stop Turkish apple imports. He pointed out that India imports around 8 million apple boxes from Turkey annually, with a similar volume coming from Iran. These imports create intense price competition, affecting local farmers.
India's domestic apple production, primarily from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, totals around 12 crore boxes per year. The country requires about 15 crore boxes, with the remaining 3 crore boxes being imported, 60% of which come from Turkey and Iran. Bramta emphasized that if Turkey's 30% import share is banned, domestic prices will rise, benefiting local farmers, as companies will be forced to source more apples from Indian growers.
Farmers argue that the influx of cheaper imported apples undermines local production, making it difficult for domestic farmers to compete. The call for a ban on Turkish apples has gained momentum in Himachal Pradesh, with support from educated youth who have left corporate careers to pursue farming. They believe that limiting imports will strengthen the domestic apple industry, improve farmer incomes, and promote investment in local agricultural infrastructure.