Shimla, May 2
Sanyukata Kissan Munch office bearers today displayed unhappiness with the ruling members of parliament for ignoring the wider interest of apple growers as they failed to address the issues of including import duty on foreign apples, using apple concentrate in fruit processing, providing minimum support price (MSP) on apples and other fruits, not releasing central share under the Market Intervention Scheme, and imposing 18-28 percent GST on packaging and other agricultural products used by apple growers and farmers in the state.
“We find ourselves cheated by the way the Prime Minister announced to increase import duty on foreign apples and the use of apple concentrates in fruit juices. Seventy percent of the population, belonging to farmers and apple producers, are unhappy with the central government, wherein in the 2022 assembly election, out of 22 assembly seats, farmers defeated BJP candidates in 14 seats,” said Harish Chauhan while addressing a press conference here today. Adding, that ” The votes for Congress were a direct outcome of the promise of universal carton and ensuring the payment of MIS which was fulfilled by the Congress Government,” he added. He said that apple growers want any government elected in the center to ensure zero GST on farmer packaging, including subsidized cartons, power tillers, sprayers, anti-hail nets, and all other materials.
He said that out of 44 apple-producing countries, cheap apples are being dumped in coastal markets from 20 to 30 countries. He said that apples are being imported from Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey, etc. He said that Iranian apples are being sold at a rate of Rs 40 per kg, however, the Union Government has fixed Rs 50 per kg under the import duty. He said that corporate houses are being given loan waivers whereas farmers have not been given any since the former Congress rule ten years before. He demanded that all Kissan Credit Cards would be given loan waivers as they are in distress due to frequent losses in the apple industry.
He said that during the last BJP rule in the state and center, apple growers and farmers are unhappy as not a single agenda of apple growers and farmers is being addressed by their government despite it having been given a thumping mandate by the farmers. He said that Rajnath Singh announced to hike the import duty on apples during the 2019 election but it was reduced instead of increasing.
Sanjay Chauhan of SK alleged that the apple, which provided 13 percent of the state GDP, is in crisis today due to the wrong policies of the current central government. It was the agriculture and apple economy which saved the country in the time of the Covid pandemic, however, due to wrong policies of the government in the center-state, the apple economy of Rs 5000 Cr has come down by Rs 1000 Cr per annum, which is a major threat perception for the two and a half lakh apple growers and their families. He said that the gap in market prices is exorbitant as cherries being sold at Rs 300 to 400 per kg in the market are being purchased from farmers at rates less than Rs 250 per kg. He said that polyethylene sheets are being charged GST at a rate of 28 percent from the farmer. He said that the farmer defeated the BJP rule because of imposing an 18 percent GST on apple cartons, which was later reduced due to a successful agitation by the farmers. He said that the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Government has completed the promise of selling apples in universal cartons and on a weight basis and also assured to resume the subsidy on pesticides, fertilizers, and agriculture implements.
TheySK claimed that that farmers and apple growers would visit the entire state in form of farmers’ troupes who would connect with the voters of the state on farmer-centric issues and whom should be supported in the election.
Chauhan said that farmers in the country and state are not happy with the current central government and demand charters would be launched by the farmers soon which would ensure minimum support price on all crops, implementation of Swaminathan Committee recommendations, payment of MIS by the center to state, and imposition of 100 percent import duty on apples and loan waiver for all KCC holding farmers in the state.
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