26 May 2025, New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the import duty on apples from Turkey. He has proposed that the current 50% duty be doubled to 100% or more, in a move aimed at shielding domestic apple growers from mounting foreign competition. Sukhu also suggested placing a cap on the volume of apples that can be imported to ensure market balance.
Known as the “apple bowl” of India, Himachal Pradesh depends heavily on apple farming, with the sector contributing nearly $540 million annually to the state’s economy. Apple cultivation in the region generates nearly one million workdays each harvest season and supports the livelihood of over 250,000 families directly or indirectly.
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India’s apple imports have surged over the past decades, rising from just 1,100 metric tons in 1998 to nearly 519,000 metric tons in 2024. Of this, Turkey alone supplied approximately 117,000 metric tons in 2024, making up around 23% of total imports. The volume of Turkish apples entering India saw a sharp spike after 2020, with a peak of 129,000 metric tons recorded in 2023.
This growing inflow of imported apples has raised concerns among growers in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir, where many depend on apple cultivation for their livelihoods. Chief Minister Sukhu is expected to take up this issue in person with the Prime Minister during his upcoming visit to Delhi.
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