Srinagar, May 16: The countrywide boycott of Turkish apples across Indiaís fruit markets has kindled hope among Kashmirís apple growers, who have long struggled against the influx of cheaper imported fruit.
As traders in prominent mandis across the country turn away from Turkish produce following geopolitical tensions, Kashmirís apple industry sees a potential turning point in its fortunes.
The move comes in response to Turkeyís perceived vocal support for Pakistan during recent India-Pakistan tensions, particularly following Indiaís ëOperation Sindoorí.
This could be the break our apple industry has desperately needed,î the President of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Union, Bashir Ahmad Basheer said. ìKashmir apple has faced stiff competition from imported apples, which led to lower returns for fruit growers in Kashmir. If the Centre bans Turkish apple imports, it will have a positive impact on our produce.î
Kashmir, which accounts for nearly 70 percent of Indiaís total apple production with approximately 1.5 million metric tons annually, has seen profit margins shrink dramatically in recent years as markets became flooded with imported varieties.
Turkish imports, particularly the Delicious and Red Gala varieties, directly compete with Kashmirís crop, as these are the same varieties widely cultivated throughout the regionís orchards.
For the past decade, Kashmirís apple industry has faced mounting pressure from imports.
Local growers point out that while Turkish apples have been problematic, Iranian imports remain their biggest concern.
The Turkish varieties directly competing with ours have certainly hurt our sales,î Basheer said. ìBut we are also demanding imposition of import duty on Iranian apples, which represent the major import in the Indian market and often undercut our prices by 15 to 20 percent.î
The average Kashmiri apple grower has seen returns diminish over the last five years, pushing many smaller orchardists to the brink of abandoning their family businesses.
Economic analysts suggest that a sustained boycott or potential import restrictions could increase domestic apple prices by 10-15%, providing much-needed relief to Kashmir’s estimated 700,000 families dependent on apple cultivation.
“The apple industry isn’t just agriculture for Kashmiróit’s the economic backbone of our region,” an agricultural economist. “Nearly half of the Valley’s population depends directly or indirectly on the apple trade. Any positive movement in pricing could transform countless lives.”
Local horticulture officials indicate that the timing could be particularly fortuitous, as early assessments suggest this year’s Kashmir apple crop may be one of the best in recent years, with favorable weather conditions contributing to higher quality fruit.
As the boycott gains momentum across Indiaís major markets, Kashmirís apple industry stands ready to fill the supply gap, potentially marking a new chapter for the Valleyís signature crop and the thousands of families whose livelihoods depend on its success.
A delegation of Himachal Pradesh apple growers met Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Friday and urged 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 sought 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 to the countryís economy but is also worrying from the national security point of view,î it said.
The delegation pointed out that the apple was not just a crop but also the backbone of the economy of the hill state and the livelihood of millions of horticulturalists.
