Srinagar, May 8: In a major development that is likely to bring some cheer among Kashmir’s apple farmers, the central government has amended its import policy for apples and has introduced a Minimum Import Price (MIP), which is an import price cap, to protect the interests of the country’s apple producers.
An official notification, dated 8 May 2023, a copy of which has been made available to Ziraat Times, reads –
“In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 read with Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, read with paragraph 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, as amended from time to time, the Central Government hereby amends the import policy condition under ITC(HS) 08081000 of Chapter-08 of ITC (HS), 2022, Schedule-I (Import Policy) as under:”
As per the new policy, import of apples under ITC (HS) 08081000 is now ‘Prohibited’ wherever the CIF Import Price is less than equal to Rs. 50/- per kilogram. However, these Minimum Import Price (MIP) conditions shall not be applicable for imports from Bhutan.
Lately, apple growers of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh have incurred big losses with the seemingly unbridled import of apples from neighboring countries at much lower prices than the cost of production of apples within the country. As input costs of apples have been rising exponentially, low market prices have been disincentivisng apple farming in both Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Pertinently, Jammu & Kashmir Fruit & vegetables Processing & Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA), besides other farmer associations in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, have been advocating for such an import cap to protect the country’s apple farmers.
Recently, Jammu & Kashmir Fruit & vegetables Processing & Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA) had written to the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, highlighting the illegal sale of unlawful import/dumping of China/Iran apples under the garb of Afghan apples.
This development has been received with a sigh of relief among Kashmir’s apple farming and business communities.
Speaking to Ziraat Times, Majid Aslam Wafai President, JKPICCA, said, “We have been lobbying for this for a long time, and we hope that this measure will protect farmers whose input costs for growing apples have gone up manifold in the recent years”.
