Srinagar, July 6: Chairman Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and former minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen has expressed serious concern over the government’s decision to reduce 20 percent import duty on Washington apples saying it would have detrimental implications on the fruit industry of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the reduction on import duty on Washington apples will make them cheaper, which the Kashmir apples cannot withstand for their survival in the open market.
In a statement issued here, Hakeem urged the Central government to withdraw the order for protecting J&K’s fruit industry and the livelihood of fruit growers and traders. “Fruit growers and traders of J&K have been suffering heavy losses continuously during the last few years due to low prices of their produce in the market. The fresh move to reduce import duty on Washington apples was bound to harm their business this year also,” he said.
The PDF leader further said, “Earlier also, the import of Iranian apples had caused havoc to the fruit industry of Jammu and Kashmir as the consumers purchase imported apples at a cheaper price though they have no such aroma and taste as that of Kashmiri apple. Levying of heavy duty on apples imported to the Indian market was imperative to protect interests of the local business.”
Hakeem Yaseen has made a fervent appeal to Prime Minister Narinder Modi to review the decision about reducing 20 percent import duty on Washington apples to save local fruit growers and traders.
“God forbid if fruit produce from Jammu and Kashmir could not fetch adequate remuneration in the market during the current season also, the growers and traders would go bankrupt and their families will die of starvation for not any fault of theirs. It is high time that the Centre comes to the rescue of the fruit growers of J&K and provides them ensured market security for their survival,” he said.
