India-UK FTA : JKPICCA welcomes GoI’s decision to protect apple tariff cuts

Srinagar, Jul 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Fruits and Vegetables Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA) on Friday welcomed the Government of India’s decision to safeguard tariff cuts on apples under the recently concluded India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).”This is a significant and welcome step toward protecting the interests of lakhs of apple growers across India, particularly those in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand,” the Association said in a statement issued here. It said the issue was discussed in detail with the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, during a recent meeting with JKPICCA representatives in Srinagar, where the concerns of the apple farming community were presented.JKPICCA said it had highlighted that Indian apple growers operate under challenging conditions — small landholdings, manual and traditional cultivation methods, and lower productivity compared to their counterparts in developed nations. These factors contribute to higher production costs, making it essential to maintain import duties to ensure a level playing field for domestic farmers, it said, adding that the same was reverberated as “traditional farming knowledge receives patent protection” in today’s trade deal.Lakhs of households in India are directly associated with apple cultivation, and their livelihoods depend heavily on the sustenance of this vital sector, the Association said, adding that JKPICCA deeply appreciates the minister’s understanding and responsiveness to this issue.”We thank and further urge the Government of India to continue this farmer-centric approach by ensuring that such safeguard measures are maintained in all current and future Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and trade negotiations, particularly in sectors critical to the economy and employment in regions like Jammu & Kashmir,” the Association said.JKPICCA said it remains committed to working with the government and all stakeholders to enhance the competitiveness of Indian apple growers while ensuring long-term sustainability and growth of the horticulture sector.