Ban Turkey apple, Himachal growers request Piyush Goyal

A delegation of apple growers met Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal today and urge him to ban the import of fruit from Turkey. The delegation, under the banner of the Himalayan Apple Growers Society, expressed deep concern over the rapidly increasing apple import from Turkey and wanted an immediate ban.

The delegation handed over a memorandum to the minister and said that due to the cheap and subsidised imports, the local orchardists were incurring huge losses and were struggling to recover even the input costs.

The delegation also stressed the fact that Turkey provided military support and defence equipment to Pakistan in the recent conflict. “Import from such a country is not only harmful for the country’s economy but is also worrying from the national security point of view,” it added.

The delegation pointed out that apple was not just a crop but also the backbone of the economy of the hill state and the livelihood of millions of horticulturalists.

Apart from seeking a ban on import from Turkey, the delegation also demanded an increase in the minimum import price and strict enforcement of quality and phytosanitary standards so that any diseases or virus do not enter our country through apple.

According to the delegation, the minister assured it of appropriate action.