· A Direct Blow to Himachal’s Rs. 5,000-Crore Apple Economy
Education Minister Rohit Thakur has strongly condemned the Union Government’s apple import policies, stating that successive decisions taken by the Centre reflect a clear anti-farmer and anti-horticulture mindset, pushing Himachal Pradesh’s apple growers towards serious economic uncertainty.
Reacting to the reduction of import duty on apples imported from New Zealand from 50 percent to 25 percent under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Rohit Thakur said the decision amounts to a direct betrayal of all apple orchardists including Himachal. He said apple cultivation is the backbone of Himachal Pradesh’s hill economy and any policy that weakens domestic growers is a direct attack on the livelihood of lakhs of families dependent on horticulture.
He said the Centre had repeatedly assured apple growers of protection, but those assurances remained unfulfilled.
Rohit Thakur further pointed out that the Market Intervention Scheme share (MIS) for cull apples and other agriculture and horticulture produce, which was introduced by the then Congress government as a centrally sponsored scheme, was effectively discontinued by the Modi government 2023 onwards by withdrawing the Centre’s financial share. He said the Centre drastically reduced its budget provision for MIS from about Rs. 4000 crore in 2022–23 to a token Rs. one lakh in the 2023–24 Union Budget, making meaningful implementation of the scheme impossible.
He said that this decision deprived growers of a vital safety net, particularly for cull fruit, and clearly reflects the Centre’s anti-horticulture policy, he remarked.
He said that despite severe financial stress, natural calamities and a difficult economic situation inherited from the past, the Himachal Pradesh Government continued to stand firmly with apple growers. Even in the absence of any central assistance, the State Government released nearly Rs. 160 crore from its own limited resources for procurement of cull apples under MIS in last three years ensuring that farmers were not left helpless of which 90 crores was liability of previous BJP regime.
Rohit Thakur emphasised that the annual MIS requirement for Himachal Pradesh alone ranges between Rs. 70–80 crore and under the centrally sponsored scheme, losses are to be shared equally by the Centre and the State. He said that when the Centre walked away from its responsibility, the entire burden was unfairly pushed onto the state.
Warning of wider consequences, the Education Minister said the FTA with New Zealand is only the beginning of opening floodgates for further reduction in import duties with other apple-exporting countries, particularly the United States. Once concessions are granted to one country, others will demand the same, placing Indian growers at a severe disadvantage, he cautioned.
He also highlighted the growing threat posed by apples imported under existing and proposed trade agreements with Iran and Afghanistan. He pointed out that even after the Minimum Import Price was increased from Rs. 50 per kg to Rs. 80 per kg, Iranian apples continue to be sold in Indian markets at Rs. 60–70 per kg, clearly demonstrating the failure of MIP as a protective mechanism. With reduced import duties, these apples could enter Indian markets at nearly Rs. 35 per kg. Similarly, free trade agreements with Afghanistan are already adversely impacting domestic horticulture, he said.
Rohit Thakur said that the cost of apple production in Himachal Pradesh is around Rs. 45 per kg. If imported apples are dumped at Rs. 35 per kg, our Rs. 5,000 crore apple economy will suffer brutal damage. Such policies will completely destabilise the rural economy of hill states,” he said. Calling the April–August duty concession window misleading, he said apple harvesting in Himachal Pradesh begins from mid-June and peaks in August. Allowing imported apples during this critical period will depress market prices, harm growers and adversely affect those who have invested heavily in high-density plantations, improved varieties and modern cold storage infrastructure.
The Education Minister criticised the BJP leadership of Himachal Pradesh, including Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and BJP MPs, for failing to effectively represent the state’s interests at the national level. Their silence proves they have chosen loyalty to the Centre over the rights of Himachal’s farmers,” he remarked.
Rohit Thakur demanded immediate corrective action from the Union Government. He said the Centre must roll back the duty reduction, restore higher import duties on apples, revive the Centre’s share of the Market Intervention Scheme for cull fruit and honour its commitments to domestic horticulturists. “Himachal Pradesh will not allow its orchardists to be sacrificed for flawed trade agreements. This injustice will be opposed strongly at every appropriate forum, he asserted.
