Srinagar, Jan 4: Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union (KVFGDU) has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to impose 100 percent import duty on the Iranian apples.
KVFGDU has expressed concern over the losses incurred by the fruit growers due to the dumping of untaxed Iranian apples into Indian markets resulting in a decline in demand for Kashmir apples.
Ziraat Times here reproduces the letter unedited written by KVFGDU to Prime Minister Modi:
Honb’le Prime Minster,
Subject: Illegal/unlawful import and dumping of Iranian Apple/Fruit in India under the Garb of Afghanistan Apples through Wagah Border/Dubai
Honb’le Sir,
With great reverence the State holders of Horticulture Sector are very glad to observe your keen interest towards the Development of Horticulture Sector in UT of J&K. Besides this, as and when we have brought into your kind notice our difficulties and the challenges faced by Horticulture Sector the amount of Interest and the resolution of such challenges and difficulties have always attractive top priorities which has percolate down to reduce the sufferings of small and marginally Fruit Growers to a great extent.
This “Union is called (Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union”) which is an Apex Body of all Fruit Growers Associations of the Valley. Your goodself are well aware that India is one of the World’s largest producer of Apple and about 70% of households in the UT of J&K are directly and indirectly dependent on this Sector. Apple Industry is the Backbone of Economies of both J&K (UT) and Himachal Pradesh. There is more than 1.50 Crore Pettis of Apple Produce stored in different Cold Stores and similarly there is additional 1.50 Crore Pettis of Apple In godowns which belongs to small and marginal growers who expect that after the harvesting season is over, the produce stored will fetch reasonable process in the market.
In this regard we would like to bring into your kind notice that several Fruit Traders have import and dump Iranian Apple arriving Via Afghanistan/Dubai in our Country and this situation have put the whole of our Fruit Industry both in J&K (UT) and Himachal Pradesh in a very precarious which in the process shall put small and marginal Growers of J&K (UT) and Himachal in a very difficult situation while sending their stored produce in the markets of outside J&K (UT) which will lead to tremendous losses to these small and marginal Growers. In fact apple produced either in J&K (UT) or Himachal/Uttrakhand shall only be available in markets of the country in view of most important Slogan “MAKE IN INDIA” launched by Honb’le Prime Minster of India in order to encourage small and marginal Growers of J&K (UT) and Himachal Pradesh.
Since this illegal and unlawful dumping of Iranian Apple in our country is not only disastrous for small and marginal growers of J&K (UT)/ Himachal Pradesh but also result in huge losses to State Exchequer. Imposition of ban to restrict the arrival of Iranian Apple via Afghanistan/Dubai in our Country is one of the top priority in order to save Horticulture Industry of UT of J&K and Himachal Pradesh as well.
In fact the Iranian Apple arrives in our Country via Afghanistan/Dubai in bulk with the result the apple crop of J&K (UT) and Himachal Pradesh does not fetch even actuals. More so Government of India Ministry of Agricultural and Farmers Welfare vide there Letter No: 18-23/2015-PP-II (e-16587) Dated: 07-12-2021 addressed to Technical Deputy Director of the plant Production organization N2, Yaman, (Tabnak) Ave, Tehran have informed that it is receipt of infested imported consignments of Fresh kiwi Fruits from Iran due to inicoption of Quarantine (Aspidiotus nerii) and non-quarantine (Aonidiella auranti) pests. Introduction of any quarantine pests through infested import consignments is a threat to Indian biosecurity and is dealt under the provisions of Indian regulation of import into India under which stringent actions such as prohibition of the commodity may be imposed. There is apprehension of similar virus in the apple consignments arrival from Iran as well.
In this connection this Union have already taken up the matter with Honb’le Minster For Agricultural Government of India , New Delhi, Vide this Office Letter No: KVFG/Gen-01/2021/725 Dated: 15-12-2021 with request for immediate banning of entry of Iranian Apple via Afghanistan/Dubai in our Country for its proxy sale
Under the circumstances explained above your goodself is requested to:-
1. Kindly take up the matter with all Concerned Authorities of Central Government for immediate banning of arrival of Iranian Apple via Afghanistan/Dubai in our Country and its proxy Sale.
OR
2. Imposition of 100% import duty on arrival of Iranian Apple to this Country.
With great regards,
Yours Sincerely,
(Bashir Ahmad Basheer)
Chairman Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union
