J&K, HP, Uttarakhand fruit business groups form Hill States Horticulture Forum

Srinagar, March 6: A joint meeting of various industrial associations and unions, mostly representing small and marginal fruit and vegetable growers of Jammu and Kashmir with Inter-State Fruit and Vegetables Associations and Unions of hill states was held on 4^th March 2021 at SIDCO’s Industrial Growth Centre (I.G.C), Lassipora, Pulwama.

On the occasion, a joint forum namely Hill States Horticulture Forum was announced, which is an amalgam of the horticulture stakeholders, namely fruit growers, consolidators of supply chains and associates from all three apple growing hill states, a forum spokesperson told Ziraat Times.

Besides Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh was represented by Harish Chauhan, President Fruit, Vegetable & Flower Growers Association; Sunil Chauhan Vice-President Fruit Vegetable & Flower Growers Association; Sandeep Chauhan, Apple Growers Association and Sanjay Chauhan Secretary General Himachal Kisan Saba, while Uttrakhand was represented by Parveen Sharma, General Secretary, Apple Growers Association Uttrakhand, the spokesperson said

Commenting on the objectives of the forum, a statement issued by the new amalgam said that at present severe problems are being faced by fruit growers and ‘several challenges for the fruit growers and other stakeholders in horticulture sector in these hill states are swelling up day by day.’

“Horticulture and cultivation of vegetables are considered in these States and UTs as main source of employment and economic well-being” , therefore, the Joint Committee after thorough discussions in the meeting formed a Joint Forum to approach the respective Governments for redressal of the following vital issues in the first instance, the statement added:

1. Illegal and unlawful import of apples from Iran & other neighbouring countries through Afghanistan under SAFTA at zero percent import duty. This is not only harmful but will prove fatal for the small and marginal fruit growers. The sale of these apples in Mandis which are meant for domestic farmers only. This has resulted in 30%-40% decrease in prices for domestic farmers this year and there is an anticipation that if this continues farmers in these apple growing states will have no market left and will have no means of sustenance.
2. To safeguard the interests of the Domestic Growers and the Associates, the import duty on apple should be levied 100% on realistic basis and import should be fixed, otherwise, this undervaluation of duty will result in losses of revenue to the respective government.

It was further decided by the Inter-State Joint Forum constituted to approach the respective Governments through joint memorandum for initiation of necessary steps to be taken for redressal of these problems otherwise it will prove detrimental and insidious for horticulture sector in near future in these hill States/UTs.