The import of apples from South Africa by the Modi-led Indian regime is being seen as a deliberate attempt to inflict significant losses on the apple industry in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, an agreement between India and South Africa allowing in-transit sterilization of South African apples and pears has resulted in the expansion of the South African apple market share in India. This agreement has facilitated the rapid arrival of South African fruit in retail markets across the country, creating tough competition against Kashmiri apples.
Growers and buyers have expressed their dismay over the current situation, citing a considerable decline in apple prices compared to the rates during the main apple season in October-November 2023. The increasing presence of South African apples in retail supermarkets and e-commerce platforms throughout India has further diminished the demand for Kashmiri apples, resulting in lower prices and causing losses for growers and buyers, according to their statements.
Tariq Ahmad, a fruit grower from Shopian, highlighted that during the spring season, they used to receive around Rs 800-1000 per apple box in Indian markets. However, the rates have seen a significant plummet, leading to financial losses for growers.
Many growers explained that buyers who had purchased apples at higher rates last autumn are now receiving less than half the price, while also incurring additional expenses of approximately Rs 300 per box for cold storage. Bashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union, expressed concern over the losses faced by buyers due to reduced demand compared to the previous year. He stated that rates have witnessed a further decline in recent weeks due to the surge in South African apple imports, resulting in over 40% losses for growers.
Bashir called for immediate government support to prioritize domestic produce and urged the authorities to take immediate steps to alleviate the losses suffered by Kashmiri apple growers.—KMS
