Ban import of apple from Turkey: MLA

The demand for a ban on the import of apple from Turkey is getting louder in the apple belt of the state in view of the military help that country reportedly extended to Pakistan. Theog MLA Kuldeep Rathore today urged the Central Government to ban all imports, including apple, from Turkey. “If the government bans the import of apple from Turkey, it will immensely benefit the apple growers of Himachal, Uttarakhand and Kashmir,” he added.

Turkey along with Iran is one of the largest apple exporters to India. The apple import from these two countries affects the domestic produce adversely and the apple growers have been seeking a hike in the import duty on apple to 100 per cent.

Rathore said that India was among the first countries to extend help to Turkey when it was rocked by a massive earthquake in 2023. “Turkey, on the other hand, is providing military help to Pakistan. The government should immediately review all trade agreements with Turkey and the public should boycott all Turkish goods, including apple,” he added.

The apple growers said, “If Turkey is helping our enemy, it also falls in the same category. We should ban the import of apple and any other product from Turkey,” said Harish Chauhan, convener of the Sanyukt Kisan Manch.

Himachal Tribune