Why in news:

• Kashmir-based apple growers and sellers have recently appealed to the Centre to ban the Iranian apple imports.
• As per the sellers, the alleged “illegal entry” of the fruit from the country has threatened the centuries-old apple industry in the valley.

Key Points:

• President of Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Dealer's Association and New Kashmir Fruit Association has said the supply of Iranian apples in India has severely damaged the rates of Kashmiri apples in the market.
• The demand for Kashmiri apples in Mandis is less owing to the availability of Iranian apples. The rates of apples have declined to Rs 1200 per box to Rs 600 in the past few days in the Mandis.
• The production cost of one apple box is Rs 600, moreover the transport charges are Rs 300 per box.
• The GST has increased from 12 percent to 18 percent. Now, how can a grower sell his production at such low rates, the protesters have asked the government.
• As per the protesters, despite repeated requests, the Centre has not paid any heed towards the matter, leaving the apple growers in lurch.
• The protesters have complained that they met Union Agriculture Minister but he didn't take any action to stop the supply. Then we wrote to Prime Minister, LG’s office, but to no avail.
• In the letter, the growers had said that Iranian apples flooding the Indian market were ‘disguised’and routed via Afghanistan to avail zero duty under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) pact – as per which the member countries don’t impose import duty on each other.
• The protesters are demanding that the government should uphold its own slogan of Make in India. According to them, if the government pushes for Make in India, then why we are importing goods from outside when we have our own production.
• The horticulture industry is the backbone of the Jammu and Kashmir, and government should safeguard this sector.
• This is the only sector that has survived in all these years of turmoil. Around 70 to 80 percent population is associated with this industry and are earning their livelihood from it.