Apple Growers Seek 100% Import Duty Protection

Shimla, Dec 12 (KNN) The Hill State Horticulture Forum, which is an association of apple growers from Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir and Uttarakhand has urged the government to raise the import duty on apple to 100 per cent.

The major harvesters of the fruits have also asked for the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) be fixed for all horticulture produce.

“In its two-day meeting in Nainital, the Hill State Agriculture Forum has decided to raise the issue of import duty and the MSP with the Centre as well as state governments,” said Harish Chauhan, convenor of the forum.

He said these issues were hurting the interests of apple growers, and they had decided to raise the issue collectively. The forum also decided to urge the governments to monitor the import of apple planting material.

“The import is not being monitored. The imported plants are not being quarantined as required after import and are being supplied to the farmers directly. It could lead to new pests and virus entering our orchards, and destroy our fruit economy,” said Chauhan.

(KNN Bureau)