Turkey boycott call brings hope to apple growers in Kashmir, Himachal

Apple farmers in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are hopeful after a growing demand for a boycott of Turkish apples across India. 

 

The call for a boycott began after Turkey supported Pakistan after a terror attack in Kashmir and India's military response under Operation Sindoor. 

 

Many people in India are now choosing not to buy Turkish apples as a sign of protest.

 

For years, farmers in Kashmir and Himachal have faced problems because of cheap apples imported from Turkey and Iran. 

 

These apples are often 15–20% cheaper than Indian apples because of government support in those countries.  Last year, 23 per cent of apple imports in India were from Turkey. This has made it hard for Indian farmers to get good prices.

 

Himachal Pradesh produces about 6 lakh metric tonnes. But because of cheap imports, many farmers in these states have suffered losses.

 

Now, with the boycott, fruit markets in Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, and other cities are not selling Turkish apples. More buyers are asking for local Indian apples, which is giving farmers hope for better prices this year.

 

However, farmers are still worried about Iranian apples, which are also imported in large amounts through Afghanistan—over 2 lakh metric tonnes every year.

 

Fayaz Ahmed Malik, president of Sopore Fruit Mandi, Asia’s largest fruit trading center, said the ban on Turkish apple will help sales of Kashmiri apple.

 

“This will help boost the earnings of apple farmers in Kashmir,’’ he said.

 

Around 7 lakh families in Kashmir and 2 lakh in Himachal Pradesh depend on apple farming for their income. Many other jobs—like transport, cold storage, packaging, and labour—also depend on the apple trade. If Indian apples sell better this year, it could bring in thousands of crores in extra income for farmers and related businesses.

 

The central government has not yet announced a ban on Turkish apples, but officials have said they are discussing the issue. Meanwhile, farmers are watching closely and hoping this will finally be a turning point for apple growers in India.

India