With the recent signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and the United Kingdom, apples have been excluded from zero-duty items. This decision has been acknowledged by apple growers in Kashmir. Kashmir, a primary apple-producing region, accounts for over 75% of India's apple production. Growers expressed concerns that tariff-free imports might negatively impact local production.
Bashir Ahmad Bashir, Chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union, remarked, "This is a welcome decision. Inclusion of apples could have flooded the market and threatened our livelihoods." The agreement seeks to enhance bilateral commerce but also aims to protect sensitive sectors.
The Jammu and Kashmir Fruits and Vegetables Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA) supported the center's approach to maintain tariff protections on apples. Izhan Javed, JKPICCA's spokesperson, mentioned, "This is a significant and welcome step toward protecting the interests of lakhs of apple growers across India, particularly those in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand."
Discussed in Srinagar with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, the concerns of the apple farming community were emphasized. The sector sustains many households, and support from leaders is vital. Muhammad Ashraf Wani, President of Fruit Mandi Shopian, stated, "Our farmers are already grappling with rising input costs and unpredictable weather. Allowing duty-free apple imports would have further destabilised the sector."
Source: Greater Kashmir
