Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Centre’s decision to import apples from the US at Rs 80 per kg hasn’t gone down well with Himachal apple farmers, according to a report in The Tribune. The import duty on the US apple has been reduced from 50 per cent to 25 per cent, but the minimum import price (MIP) has been increased from Rs 50 per kg to Rs 80 per kg.
According to the India-US trade deal, the US apple will land in India at Rs 100 per kg. “It’s the same price which our premium quality apple gets in the market. At this price, it will pose a tough competition to our premium apple. If the high-quality imported apple costs the same as that of our domestic apple, consumers will drift towards the imported apple,” says Harish Chauhan, convener of the Sanyukt Kisan Manch.
“Besides, the controlled atmosphere stores will become unsustainable. Why would someone buy our premium apple at Rs 85-90, incur the storage cost, and then bring it to the market at a price higher than the US apple?” he asks. Chauhan is among the growers who feel the US apple at this price will have a devastating effect on the local apple economy. He rejects the contention that the US apple was landing at Rs 75 per kg in India prior to the deal.
“If the US apple was landing at Rs 75, how come it was selling at Rs 200 to 250 in the market?” he asks. Lokinder Bisht, President, Progressive Growers Association (PGA), feels the premium quality apple will be hit but the MIP and 25 per cent tariff will limit the damage to the local apple economy to some extent. “The MIP should have been at least Rs 100 to offer more protection to the local growers,” he says.
PGA is one of the largest apple growers’ bodies in the state. He says the local premium apple will not get a higher price than the US apple. “If the price of our premium apple goes down, the impact will be felt on the low-quality apple as well,” says Bisht, adding that there must be restriction on the amount of apple that can be bought with reduced tariff. “Unlimited imports will pose a big threat to the economy,” he says.
Meanwhile, some growers feel the deal will have very little effect on the local apple economy. Dimple Panjta, president of the Himalayan Society for Horticulture and Agriculture Development, says the local premium apple is good enough to compete with any foreign import. “We can’t run away from global competition forever. Instead of getting discouraged, we should see this as an opportunity to improve our quality. Instead of demanding protection, we should seek subsidies, and better planting material from the government to help us increase our production and enhance quality,” says Panjta.