Price guarantee brings cheers to J&K apple growers

KASHMIR apple growers are elated over the Central government's decision to fix Minimum Import Price (MIP) for apples by banning its import if the price is less than ₹50 per kg.

- FAYAZ WANI

The growers say it would benefit the local apple growers and demanded further increase in cess on the import from the present 35 percent to protect the local apple industry.

Bashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union told this newspaper that the central government's decision to fix MIP for import of apples is a good move and "we welcome it".

"The import of apples was undervalued and under-billed by the traders to escape the taxes, thus causing loss to the state exchequer and also hurting the local fruit growers," he said.

Now with the central government deciding to ban import of apples if its price is less than ₹50, the fruit growers say the cost of the imports per kg would rise to ₹75 after charging a 35 percent cess.