(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer)
The import of foreign apples have caused prices of Kashmiri apples to fall, leaving local growers and traders facing heavy financial loss. The crisis has not only threatened the livelihoods of thousands but also destabilized a sector that is a major contributor to the Valley's economy.
What's more, Kashmir's Controlled Atmosphere stores, once considered a helpful recourse to manage market glut during harvest season, have become a double-edged sword. With apple prices in a freefall, growers are struggling to even recover their CA storage costs, incurring substantial losses in the process.
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The import of Iranian, Washington, and South African apples into the Indian market has considerably eroded the market share of Kashmiri apples, which makes up 75 percent of India's apple production. This has exacerbated the difficulties of local growers. So, the need for protective measures such as import duties on foreign apples has never been more urgent.
This calls for government intervention. The upcoming budget is an opportunity for the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to address the crisis head-on by levying import duties on foreign apples. This will go a long way to level the playing field and safeguard the apple industry, both in Kashmir as well as in Himachal Pradesh, from unfair competition.
We also need a Market Intervention Scheme to stabilize apple prices and ensure market access. This will provide much-needed relief to growers facing volatile market conditions. Besides, enhanced transportation infrastructure is also critical to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure timely delivery of apples to markets in the country. More so, during the onset of winter which is usually the time when Kashmiri apples are transported to other parts of the country.
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Access to better pesticides and their proper use is vital for improving fruit quality and yield. Already,
the growing costs of pesticides and transportation have reduced considerably the returns from exports. Fruit processing within the private sector would also add value to Kashmiri apples, creating additional income generation and employment opportunities.
We need immediate action to protect the profitability of Kashmiri apples and secure the livelihoods of those dependent on the sector. The time for intervention is now, and the upcoming budget must reflect a commitment to protecting the future of Kashmir's apple growers. Currently, five lakh families (around 25 lakh people) in the state are practicing horticulture.
Apple occupies around 40 percent of the total area under fruit and accounts for 90 percent of the total production of fruits in the state. This reflects the importance of the apple industry for the union territory's economy, making it all the more necessary for the government to take steps to address the issues faced by the sector.
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