Himachal CM Urges PM Modi to Hike Import Duty on Turkish Apples to 100%

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 21 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the import duty on apples from Turkey from the current 50 percent to at least 100 percent. He also advocated for the imposition of quantitative restrictions on imported apples in order to safeguard the livelihoods of Indian apple growers, particularly in Himachal Pradesh, an official release stated.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, CM Sukhu emphasized Himachal Pradesh’s reputation as the “Apple Bowl” of India. He highlighted that apple cultivation is the state’s prime cash crop, generating an estimated Rs 4,500 crore annually and creating approximately 10 lakh man-days of employment. This sector supports more than 2.5 lakh families through both direct and indirect jobs.

The Chief Minister noted that India is currently importing apples from nearly 31 countries. The volume of imported apples rose dramatically from 1,100 metric tonnes in 1998 to 5.19 lakh metric tonnes in 2024. Of these, Turkish apples accounted for 1.17 lakh metric tonnes this year — approximately 23 percent of total imports. Sukhu pointed out that Turkey’s apple exports to India saw the sharpest increase, especially in 2023, when they hit 1.29 lakh metric tonnes.

He warned that the surge of Turkish apples in Indian markets has severely affected the domestic apple industry by undercutting prices and pushing local producers, particularly small and marginal farmers in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir, into financial distress.

“This influx of cheaper Turkish apples is threatening the very survival of Indian apple growers,” Sukhu stated, calling for urgent policy intervention. He added that he would personally raise the matter with Prime Minister Modi during an upcoming visit to Delhi.

Meanwhile, apple growers in Himachal Pradesh are demanding a complete ban on Turkish apple imports, citing geopolitical concerns in addition to economic ones. They referenced Turkey’s support for Pakistan during recent Indo-Pak tensions, including Operation Sindoor — India’s precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) following the Pahalgam terror attack. Turkey has also been accused of supplying military equipment to Islamabad.

A joint delegation of farmers and fruit growers, led by Himachal Pradesh Sanyukt Kisan Manch Convener Harish Chauhan, previously submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister and the President via the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, calling for immediate action on the matter. (ANI)