Apple growers demand 100% import duty

SHIMLA : With the Congress government coming to power in Himachal Pradesh, now apple growers have pinned high hopes from the Chief Minister Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to fulfil their long pending demands. The apple growers of the state have submitted a 12-point demand letter to the government, in which they have demanded to increase the import duty on apples by 100% as currently India is importing apples from 44 countries, due to which the farmers of the state are facing losses. At the same time, the demand for implementation of minimum support price (MSP) for apples on the lines of Kashmir has also been raised prominently by the growers.

Apple growers say that MSP should be fixed at Rs 60 for A grade apple, Rs 44 for B grade apple and Rs 24 for C grade apple. Apart from this, the demand for strict implementation of the APMC Act has also been raised in the 12-point demand letter.

Himachal Pradesh Apple Growers Association president Sohan Thakur said that the apple economy of the state is facing many challenges, so there is need for the immediate intervention of the government. He said to ensure the early redressal of their grievances, they have submitted a memorandum to the chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu through the sub divisional magistrate. He added that MSP for apples needs to be implemented and there is also a need to introduce universal cartons to pack the apple crop. tnn