Apple growers of Jammu and Kashmir, the highest apple producing territory of India, have given mixed reactions to the imposition of restrictions by the federal government on free import of apples with cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) price less than or equal to ₹50 per kg. While some are approving of the move, others said the step will make little impact and wanted an increase in ₹50/kg minimum import price (MIP) bracket for the restrictions or a minimum support price (MSP) for the home-grown apples. Bashir Ahmad Bashir, chairman of Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-dealers union, said the ban on free import of apples below or equal to ₹50 CIF was a good step. Iran and Turkey apples had made our lives difficult. Our demand and market would suffer as we were not even able to recover our production costs earlier,” he said.

Source: Hindustan Times May 12, 2023 12:21 UTC