Shimla, Apple growers, who form a major chunk of the voters in Himachal Pradesh, may upset the BJP's apple cart this time as many allege that their plight has been ignored in the last 10 years and an influential farmer The Sangh is extending its support to Congress. ,
Apple is cultivated in an area of 1,15,680 hectares spread over 21 assembly constituencies mainly in Shimla, Mandi, Kullu and Kinnaur districts and parts of Chamba, Sirmaur, Lahaul and Spiti, Kangra and Solan districts. Major apple producing areas fall under Shimla and Mandi parliamentary constituencies.
More than three lakh families are directly involved in apple production.
According to official data, apple production was to be 3.5 crore boxes in 2022 and crore boxes in 2023, joint director (horticulture) Hem Chand said, adding that depending on the production and market price, the apple economy in the state is estimated to be around Rs 4,000 crore. Was more than.The main demands of apple growers are 100 per cent import duty on apples to stop import of cheaper varieties of apples, abolition of GST on agricultural inputs and equipment loan waiver and subsidy on fertilizers and pesticides.
Progressive Growers Association President Lokinder Bisht alleged that despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tall claims, nothing has been done to alleviate the plight of apple growers in the last 10 years.
He also claimed that neither the import duty was increased nor the apple was included in the special category crop.
The Samyukta Kisan Manch (SKM), which had made an open call to political parties to address their concerns, has extended support to the Congress.
SKM, which claims the support of 27 associations of apple, stone fruit and vegetable growers, promised support after the Congress included their demands in its manifesto, SKM convenor Harish Chauhan said.
He said, apart from incorporating our demands, Congress and its alliance also promise to bring a law to ensure MSP (minimum support price) so that producers are not compensated by the huge corporates building warehouses and coal storage in the apple belt. To be protected from exploitation.He said that the Congress government in the state has also accepted our long pending demand of introducing universal carton and dues of Rs 89 crore of apple growers are being paid under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).
Rajan Herta, a gardener from Rohru, said that the main demand is MSP for apples.
Roshan Lal Thakur, an apple grower from Khaknal village near Manali, said, “Indian markets are flooded with apples imported from Turkey, Iran, Italy, Chile and South Africa and local growers, who depend on high-cost manual labour, are facing a tough time. "We are facing challenges." To compete with foreign players by using mechanized farming."
Sujat Chauhan, an orchardist from Sandhu, said import duty on apples is the only way to protect the interests of growers and the government should ban import of apples during the July-February season so that domestic growers can sell their produce at remunerative prices.In Shimla district, which also wants increase in subsidy on fertilizers.
The government's decision to increase GST on packaging materials such as corrugated boxes from 12 to 18 per cent has also not gone down well with producers, who complain that it has increased costs by 10 to 15 per cent.
At present, 25 percent GST is levied on agricultural equipment and 18 percent GST on sprays and cartons.
However, BJP leaders say it has done a lot for farmers and fruit growers by launching several schemes like Kisan Samman Nidhi and Sola Fencing.
The BJP reminded that the agreement with WTO to limit import duty to 5 per cent was signed by Anan Sharma, the then commerce minister in the UPA II government, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Kangra as a Congress candidate.
Apple is cultivated in an area of 1,15,680 hectares spread over 21 assembly constituencies mainly in Shimla, Mandi, Kullu and Kinnaur districts and parts of Chamba, Sirmaur, Lahaul and Spiti, Kangra and Solan districts. Major apple producing areas fall under Shimla and Mandi parliamentary constituencies.
More than three lakh families are directly involved in apple production.
According to official data, apple production was to be 3.5 crore boxes in 2022 and crore boxes in 2023, joint director (horticulture) Hem Chand said, adding that depending on the production and market price, the apple economy in the state is estimated to be around Rs 4,000 crore. Was more than.The main demands of apple growers are 100 per cent import duty on apples to stop import of cheaper varieties of apples, abolition of GST on agricultural inputs and equipment loan waiver and subsidy on fertilizers and pesticides.
Progressive Growers Association President Lokinder Bisht alleged that despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tall claims, nothing has been done to alleviate the plight of apple growers in the last 10 years.
He also claimed that neither the import duty was increased nor the apple was included in the special category crop.
The Samyukta Kisan Manch (SKM), which had made an open call to political parties to address their concerns, has extended support to the Congress.
SKM, which claims the support of 27 associations of apple, stone fruit and vegetable growers, promised support after the Congress included their demands in its manifesto, SKM convenor Harish Chauhan said.
He said, apart from incorporating our demands, Congress and its alliance also promise to bring a law to ensure MSP (minimum support price) so that producers are not compensated by the huge corporates building warehouses and coal storage in the apple belt. To be protected from exploitation.He said that the Congress government in the state has also accepted our long pending demand of introducing universal carton and dues of Rs 89 crore of apple growers are being paid under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).
Rajan Herta, a gardener from Rohru, said that the main demand is MSP for apples.
Roshan Lal Thakur, an apple grower from Khaknal village near Manali, said, “Indian markets are flooded with apples imported from Turkey, Iran, Italy, Chile and South Africa and local growers, who depend on high-cost manual labour, are facing a tough time. "We are facing challenges." To compete with foreign players by using mechanized farming."
Sujat Chauhan, an orchardist from Sandhu, said import duty on apples is the only way to protect the interests of growers and the government should ban import of apples during the July-February season so that domestic growers can sell their produce at remunerative prices.In Shimla district, which also wants increase in subsidy on fertilizers.
The government's decision to increase GST on packaging materials such as corrugated boxes from 12 to 18 per cent has also not gone down well with producers, who complain that it has increased costs by 10 to 15 per cent.
At present, 25 percent GST is levied on agricultural equipment and 18 percent GST on sprays and cartons.
However, BJP leaders say it has done a lot for farmers and fruit growers by launching several schemes like Kisan Samman Nidhi and Sola Fencing.
The BJP reminded that the agreement with WTO to limit import duty to 5 per cent was signed by Anan Sharma, the then commerce minister in the UPA II government, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Kangra as a Congress candidate.
