4 months ago
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Amid the rising interest among pome growers implicit the simplification successful duties connected apples imported from New Zealand to India arsenic portion of a new escaped commercialized statement (FTA) betwixt the 2 countries, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu connected Tuesday (January 13, 2026) said helium would firmly rise the contented earlier the Union authorities to support the interests of the section growers.
In Shimla, chairing a gathering with representatives of progressive orchardists of the State, the Chief Minister listened to their interest implicit the Centre’s determination of slashing import work connected New Zealand apples from 50% to 25%, which the growers asseverate would severely interaction their livelihoods.
‘Top precedence for govt.’
Mr. Sukhu assured pome growers that helium would rise the contented with the Centre to code their concerns. “I volition conscionable the Union Finance [Minister] and the Commerce Minister and impulse them to instrumentality indispensable measures to support the interests of the orchardists of the State,” helium said, adding that pome accumulation was a large pillar of the elevation State’s system and its extortion and promotion was a apical precedence of the government.
The pome manufacture is the backbone of Himachal Pradesh’s economy, contributing astir ₹5,000-6,000 crore annually and supporting implicit 1.5 lakh families, chiefly tiny and marginal farmers. Himachal Pradesh produces astir 6.5 lakh metric tonnes of apples each twelvemonth — astir 25% of India’s full output, according to the State’s Horticulture Department.
Small-scale farmers successful the portion beryllium connected apples arsenic their main income source, with fewer alternatives for diversification fixed the challenging hilly landscape.
