Union Budget: Demands not met, Himachal apple growers upset

Shimla, July 23

The Union Budget has disappointed apple growers, who say that there is no mention of their long-standing demands like a hike in import duty on apple to 100 per cent, reducing GST on farm inputs etc.

“We are disappointed with the Budget. Yes, the Budget for agriculture has been enhanced but there’s no relief or incentive for apple cultivation, which is so crucial for the economy of Himachal, Kashmir and Uttarakhand,” said Harish Chauhan, convener of the Sanyukt Kisan Manch, here today.

“Apple cultivation is going through a crisis on account of rising input cost and erratic weather conditions. The Centre could have considered at least one demand to offer some relief to apple growers to help them tackle a difficult phase in fruit cultivation,” said Lokinder Bisht, president of Progressive Growers Association.

He said that the Central Government had reduced subsidy on fertilisers, which would make this critical farm input costlier. “Also, the Budget has proposed to increase import duty on ammonium nitrate, a key fertiliser in apple cultivation, to 10 per cent. This, too, will hit the growers,” he added.

Chetan Bragta, a BJP leader, said that the big outlay in the Budget for developing post-harvest facilities would help apple growers as well. “Also, the Budget talks about releasing 109 high-yielding climate-resistant varieties of field and horticulture crops. This will help horticulturalists.