Hike import duty on Turkey apple: Himachal CM Sukhu writes to PM

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to increase import duty on apple imported from Turkey from 50 per cent to at least 100 per cent to safeguard the interests of the apple growers of Himachal Pradesh.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister said, “Himachal Pradesh is known as the apple bowl of the country and is famous for producing its delicious varieties. Quantitative restrictions should be imposed on the import of apple.”

“Apple is the prime cash crop of the state, which generates an income of about Rs 4,500 crore annually. About 10 lakh man days of work is generated due to the apple crop, thereby providing direct and indirect employment to more than 2.50 lakh families,” he wrote. He said that he would personally take up the issue for a hike in the import duty on Turkey apple with the Prime Minister during a visit to New Delhi later this week.

Sukhu said that at present, apple was imported from 31 countries and about 5.19 lakh metric tonnes of fresh apple was imported during 2024, a 500 times increase as compared to 1,100 metric tonnes imported during 1998. “The import of apple from Turkey had increased during 2020 while the highest 1.29 lakh metric tonnes of apple was imported during 2023. A substantial 1.17 lakh metric tonnes of apple was imported from Turkey during 2024, around 23 per cent of the total apple import,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that the apple from Turkey had been flooding Indian markets in recent years, posing a serious threat to the growers of the country. The influx of apple from Turkey had not only undermined the competitiveness of local apple producers but also jeopardised the livelihoods of small and marginal apple growers of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

Agniveer’s death in Kargil mourned

• Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed grief over the death of Agniveer Naveen Kumar in a landslide in the Kargil area of Jammu Kashmir on Tuesday. He belonged to the Thural area of the Sullah Assembly constituency in Kangra district
• The Chief Minister prayed to the almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family members. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri also expressed grief over Naveen’s demise
• Agnihotri conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family and prayed to the almighty for eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to Naveen’s family to bear this irreparable loss