Ban sought on import of apple from Iran

Tribune News service

Shimla, December 15

Following the suspension of import of kiwi fruit from Iran by the Ministry of Agriculture a few days back, apple growers are demanding similar action with regard to the import of apple from that country.

The Agriculture Ministry suspended the import following several interceptions of quarantine and non-quarantine pests, a threat to the biosecurity of the country, in the kiwi consignments coming from Iran. “We had written to the government last year that the Iranian apple and kiwis weren’t meeting our phytosanitary standards. Now that the government has banned the import of kiwis, the apple import, too, should be banned,” said Lokinder Bisht, president of the Progressive Growers Association.

Bisht further claimed that the presence of insects like codling moth and acuba scale has been noticed in certain shipments of apple from Iran. “At the very least, all apple consignments from Iran should be checked thoroughly for the presence of pests and insects before they are released into the Indian market,” said Bisht.

The other issue the apple growers have with the Iranian apple is the extremely low cost at which it’s available in the Indian market. The Iranian apple reaches Indian market at around Rs 50-60 per kg which drags down the market of the local produce as well.