Iranian apple ‘smuggling’ worries local growers

Subhash Rajta

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 17

Apple growers of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand have joined hands to fight the alleged smuggling of Iranian apple into Indian markets. “Iranian apple is being brought into India through Afghanistan without paying import duty. Not only the Union Government is losing import duty but also local apple growers are being adversely affected,” said Harish Chauhan, president of the Fruits, Vegetables and Flowers Growers Association of Himachal Pradesh.

The apple growers from these three states met in Srinagar a few days ago and formed the Hill State Horticulture Forum to raise their concerns against the ‘dumping’ of Iranian fruit. “We have decided to come on a platform to fight this threat. Along with the apple growers, small CA store owners, arhtiyas and other stakeholders in the apple business, too, will be roped in. We will raise the matter with the Central Government as well as our state governments,” said Chauhan.

Being brought without paying import duty

Iranian apple is being brought into India through Afghanistan without paying import duty. Not only the Union Government is losing import duty but also local apple growers are being adversely affected. —Harish Chauhan, State fruits, vegetables & flowers growers association prez

According to the apple growers, the Afghanistan route is being used to bring in Iranian apple because there’s no import duty on trade between countries falling in the South Asian Free Trade Area, namely India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. “Using this route, the Iranian apple is reaching Delhi at the cost of Rs 40 to Rs 50 kg. It’s impossible for our growers to compete at this rate, given the high cost of apple production in our states,” said Praveen Sharma, an apple grower from Uttarakhand.

“Besides, what if China, too, starts dumping its apple in our markets through Nepal and Sri Lanka? If this happens, our apple industry will be destroyed. So, we have come together to raise the issue and put an end to this illegal practice,” said Sharma. He added that this practice, if left unchecked, would discourage apple growers from planting new orchards.

The apple growers got the wind of this ‘illegal’ trade when imports from Afghanistan started increasing significantly over the past few years.