Photo Source; ANI
Himachal CM Sukhu writes to PM Modi, urges to impose 100 % import duty on Turkish apples to protect local growers
Babushahi Bureau
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), May 21, 2025 – Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting the increase of import duty on apples from Turkey to at least 100%, up from the current 50%, to protect the interests of domestic apple growers.
In the letter, CM Sukhu emphasized that Himachal Pradesh is widely recognized as India’s "apple state", and its apples are globally known for their sweetness and quality. He also urged the Prime Minister to consider imposing quantitative restrictions on imported apples.
The Chief Minister highlighted that apple is a major cash crop in the state, generating an annual income of approximately ₹4,500 crore. The apple economy creates nearly 1 million man-days of employment, supporting over 2.5 lakh families both directly and indirectly.
He raised concerns over the growing volume of apple imports in India, which now come from nearly 31 countries. In 2024 alone, around 5.19 lakh metric tonnes of apples were imported into India, a staggering increase from 1,100 metric tonnes in 1998—a nearly 500-fold rise.
CM Sukhu pointed out that Turkey has emerged as a major exporter of apples to India, accounting for 1.17 lakh metric tonnes in 2024, representing 23% of India’s total apple imports.
The share of Turkish apples in the Indian market has grown rapidly, with the highest surge recorded in 2023 at 1.29 lakh metric tonnes.
He expressed serious concern that the flooding of Indian markets with Turkish apples is undermining local apple producers, particularly those in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Small and marginal apple growers in these regions are finding it increasingly difficult to compete with cheaper imported apples, putting their livelihoods at risk.
CM Sukhu stated that during his upcoming visit to Delhi, he will personally raise the issue with the Prime Minister and press for increased import duties on Turkish apples to safeguard the domestic apple farming community.