Shimla, (UNI) The Himachal Apple Producers Association (Himachal Seb Utpadak Sangh) has strongly opposed the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between India and New Zealand, alleging that it compromises the interests of apple, kiwi and pear growers across hill states and favours corporate farming interests abroad.
In a press release issued here today, the Association said the agreement reduces import duty on apples from 50 percent to 25 percent, makes kiwi imports duty-free and cuts duty on pears to 16.5 percent from the 2026 fruit season.
The growers’ body described the move as a “serious blow” to orchardists in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and the northeastern states, who are already facing rising input costs and a prolonged agrarian crisis.
The Association accused the union government of protecting the interests of corporate apple producers in New Zealand while ignoring Indian farmers.
It said that calling the agreement a “historic achievement” reflected a complete disregard for the condition of domestic fruit growers.
The growers’ body also targeted Commerce and Industry Minister, alleging that the Centre was misleading farmers by claiming that safeguards had been built into the FTA.
It maintained that so-called seasonal restrictions were meaningless, as imported apples could be stored in controlled atmosphere (CA) facilities and released into the market at any time.
The Association further criticised the government for not announcing any Minimum Import Price (MIP) to protect domestic rates.
State President Sohan Thakur said apple growers should not fall prey to what he termed government propaganda and must prepare for sustained resistance against “anti-apple” policies.
He warned that the New Zealand agreement was only the beginning, claiming that similar FTAs with the United States, Iran, Turkey and other major apple-producing countries were in the pipeline.
“These countries have far higher productivity per hectare and provide much greater state support to their farmers,” the statement said, adding that unrestricted imports would prove disastrous for Indian orchardists.
The Association concluded that only organised and vigorous struggles could force a reversal of such trade policies and safeguard the future of India’s apple growers.
Apple growers term FTA with New Zealand anti-farmer, call for statewide struggle
