Apple in Kinnaur photo used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet
Shimla, Dec 25,
A major shock has hit Himachal Pradesh’s Rs 5,000-crore apple economy, with the Union Government’s decision to slash import duty on New Zealand apples from 50% to 25% under a new Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The state’s Education Minister Rohit Thakur on Thursday called it a “direct betrayal of lakhs of orchardist families depending on apples for survival.”
Also read:<Apple Growers alarmed as India cuts Import duty for New Zealand under FTA/p>
Thakur said the Centre’s move would trigger cheap imports, crash market prices during Himachal’s peak harvest season, and endanger the livelihoods of growers across the hill state. He said the Union Government had repeatedly assured farmers that apple interests would be safeguarded — assurances that “stand broken today.”
MIS funding slashed from Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh
Thakur further accused the Centre of withdrawing financial support from the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for cull apples, virtually abandoning growers after 2023.
He highlighted a massive budget cut — from nearly Rs 4,000 crore in 2022–23 to just Rs 1 lakh in 2023–24 — leaving orchardists without a crucial price safety net.
“Despite its own financial challenges, the Himachal government released ₹160 crore from state funds over the past three years to support apple procurement, clearing liabilities left by the previous regime,” he said.
Cheap imports below cost of production threaten local markets
Calling the FTA a dangerous precedent, Thakur warned that similar duty concessions could soon be extended to the US, Iran, and Afghanistan, pushing domestic growers into an existential crisis.
He flagged the disparity in pricing, noting that imported apples often enter Indian markets below Minimum Import Price, while Himachal’s cost of production is already about Rs 45 per kg.
Thakur also dismissed the Centre’s claim that duty cuts apply only between April and August. He said Himachal’s harvest begins mid-June and peaks in August, precisely when markets would be flooded with foreign apples.
‘Why are BJP leaders silent?’
Targeting the state opposition, Thakur questioned why senior Himachal BJP leaders, including the Leader of Opposition, have avoided speaking against the Centre’s decision.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
