Centre raises minimum import price of apple by Rs 30 to Rs 80 per kg

The Central Government has increased the minimum import price (MIP) of apple from Rs 50 per kg to Rs 80 per kg, providing a big relief to the growers of Himachal, Kashmir and Uttarakhand. “The decision was taken on June 3 following the approval of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan,” said Chetan Singh Bragta, BJP spokesperson.

Besides an increase in import duty on apple, the growers have been demanding a hike in the MIP to ensure that imported apple do not reach the Indian markets at extremely cheap rates.

Bragta said that the decision was the result of the farmer-friendly approach and strong political willpower of the Narendra Modi government. It would check the unhindered dumping of imported apple in the country, he added. “It will lead to local apple growers getting remunerative prices for their produce in the market,” he claimed.

The MIP Rs 50 per kg for apple was introduced in 2023. While happy with the decision, the apple growers had been demanding a hike in the MIP and strict adherence to the decision. “The Centre and banned the entry of Chinese apple into the Indian market in 2018. Like that decision, the hike in the MIP is going to benefit the local growers a lot, and its impact will be seen shortly,” he added.

With the MIP at Rs 50 per kg and the import duty fixed at 50 per cent, the imported apple landed at Indian shores at a minimum price of Rs 75 per kg. With the MIP hiked to Rs 80 per kg, this price will now jump to Rs 120 per kg, a difference of Rs 45 per kg. “This hike will be beneficial to the growers provided the decision is implemented strictly,” said an apple grower.

Raise duty to 100%, Piyush Goyal urged

• Theog MLA Kuldeep Rathore had urged Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, to maintain import duty on US apple at 50 per cent and gradually raise it to 100 per cent
• The apple production cost in the US is estimated to be 30 per cent to 40 per cent lower than the Himachal apple