Indian apple market disrupted by imports from Iran

The flow of imported apples from Iran has pushed down the price of apples in India, where domestic growers, believing the situation to be disastrous for the sector, are asking the government to intervene. 

 

The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to intervene. According to the association, these Iranian apples are imported into the country via Afghanistan and Dubai. No customs duties are applied, which allows them to be sold wholesale at lower prices than Indian apples.

 

This lower price puts the entire fruit industry in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh in a very precarious situation. The industry hopes that the Indian government will either ban the import of Iranian apples or increase the tariffs on Iranian apples to protect the interests of Indian producers. 

 

If the situation persists, heavy losses are expected for local producers. Some are already considering destroying their fruit instead of paying rent to cold stores to preserve produce that cannot be sold at a profitable price.

 

 

 

 

 

source : newindianexpress.com, thewire.in, news9live.com