Input cost rising, apple growers to meet Union minister on July 25

Shimla, July 18

A delegation of apple growers from Himachal, Kashmir and Uttarakhand will meet Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar on July 25 to apprise him of the teething issues affecting the apple industry.

“The rising input costs over the last few years and the stagnant apple prices over more than a decade are making apple cultivation unsustainable. Already under stress, the government has put more burden on apple growers by enhancing GST on packaging material,” said Seb Utpadak Sangh state president Sohan Thakur here today.

We will apprise the minister of the increasing burden on apple growers. We will request him to have a look at GST on packaging material and the possibility of increasing import duty. — President, Seb Utpadak Sangh

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“We will apprise the minister of the increasing burden on apple growers. We will request him to have a look at GST on packaging material and the possibility of increasing import duty,” he said.

Thakur further said that the ongoing protest against the indifference of the state government towards apple growers would continue. “Under the banner of Sanyukt Kisan Manch, apple growers will stage protest at Theog, Rohru, Rampur, Nirmand, Narkanda, etc, on July 20,” said Thakur.

“A government committee met the apple growers following the protest on July 11 at Theog and Rohru. Sadly, the committee had no solution to offer to the issues raised by us,” said Thakur.

Thakur further alleged that the APMC was illegally collecting marketing fee from apple growers at its Shoghi barrier. “The APMC should focus on regulating its mandis and not on collecting money illegally at barriers. We are asking APMC to stop this illegal practice at the earliest,” he said. “If the APMC doesn’t stop collecting this illegal charge, we will stage a massive protest outside its office on August 5,” he said.