Kashmir fruit growers appeal PM Modi to intervene in ban on Iranian apple
By: Muzamil Bhat CK
Srinagar
Kashmir fruit growers association on Wednesday has appealed to Prime Minister Modi to save the growers of Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir from the invasion by the illegal transfer of apples from Iran without any taxes.
They in their appeal to PM Modi have said that he should keep the promise of make in India and save the thousands of families from the starvation as the Kashmir apple along with the boxes of apples from the Himachal are rotting in cold storages while as the Iranian apples are in great demand on the cheaper rates as they are not being taxed when the truck loads of these apples reach the markets here.
Addressing a press conference President of Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Dealer’s Association and New Kashmir Fruit Association Bashir Ahmad Bashir said the supply of Iranian apples in India has severely damaged the rates of Kashmir produce apples in the market.
“The demand of Kashmiri apples in Mandi’s are less owing to the availability of Iranian apples,” he said, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)
Bashir said the rates of apples have declined to Rs 1200 per box to Rs 600 in the past few days in the Mandi’s.
“The production cost of one apple box is Rs 600, moreover the transport charges costs Rs 300 per box,” he said. “The GST has increased from 12 percent to 18 percent. Now, how can a grower sell his production at such low rates? ”
Bashir said that despite repeated requests, the GoI has not paid any heed to towards the matter, leaving the apple growers in lurch.
“We met Union Agriculture Minister but he didn’t take any action to stop the supply. Then we wrote to Prime Minister, LG office, but to no avail,” he said.
“If Modi cries for Make in India, then why we are importing goods from outside when we have our own production,” he said. “PM Modi should upheld its own slogan”.
Bashir said that the horticulture industry is the backbone of the Jammu and Kashmir, and government must make sure to safeguard this sector.
“This is the only sector that has survived in all these years of turmoil. Around 70 to 80 percent population are associated with this industry and are earning their livelihood from it,” he said.
Bashir said that, as per their information, many people have dumped the Iranian apples at the ports of Mumbai and Chennai, which they later sell at low rates in the Indian Mandi’s as compared to Kashmiri apples.
“We have come to know that in Iran, one kg of apple cost Rs 20. So, these people import the apples and then dump them in CA stores here, “he said. “There should be tax imposed on it.”
“We appeal Prime Minister Narendra Midi to intervene into the matter and ban the import of Iranian apples in the market,” Bashir said.
With KNO inputs
