Himachal Pradesh House urges Central Government to shield apple growers from foreign trade agreement heat

The Himachal Pradesh House on Tuesday adopted a resolution to urge the Union Government to take protective measures to protect the apple growers from the impact of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signed with the US and European Union. The resolution was moved by Kuldeep Rathore, the Congress MLA from Theog, under the Private Member Bill.

Responding to the resolution, Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi said his department had repeatedly taken up the issue with the Centre and submitted detailed recommendations, including increasing the import duty on apples from the 50 per cent to 100 per cent, imposing a complete ban on apple imports during the peak domestic production season and introducing quantitative restrictions to prevent market saturation.

He further said that apple imports into India had increased dramatically since the country joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1995. Imports have risen from just over 1,100 metric tonnes in 1998 to more than 5.19 lakh metric tonnes in 2024, with 4.78 lakh metric tonnes recorded in 2025.

Rathore, meanwhile, said the trade agreement with the United States was being projected as a diplomatic and economic achievement but for India’s small and marginal apple farmers it could prove devastating. He pointed out that the average landholding of an apple grower in Himachal is just 1 to 2 acres, while the average apple orchard size in the US is nearly 100 acres. “One acre vs 100 acre is no competition, it’s a totally uneven playing field,” he said, adding that on productivity alone, our farmers are at a tenfold disadvantage.

He further said imports from the United States and Europe would arrive at the same time when farmers in Himachal bring their peak harvest to market. “Our fruit markets have limited daily demand. When arrivals exceed that demand, prices fall immediately. Imported apples will first weaken premium prices. Once premium rates fall, the pressure spreads to all grades,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Janak Raj, the BJP MLA from Bharmour, said the Congress was indulging in propaganda to mislead and intimidate apple growers. He said the statements being made by Congress leaders FTA have no connection with reality. He said under the agreement, a limited quota has been set for apple imports, which is even lower than the current import levels and will be increased gradually over a period of 10 years.