Apple Farmers Left Out in the Cold: Union Budget 2024-25 Disappoints Growers

SHIMLA: In a blow to apple farmers, the Union Budget 2024-25, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has failed to address key demands from the apple industry.

What has irked the farmers is that foreign apple stored in cold stores have flooded the present markets even as the fresh apple season has started that has impact the prices of the domestic fruit. 

Lokinder Singh Bisht, President of the Progressive Growers Association (PGA), expressed deep disappointment, stating, "The budget offers nothing for the apple industry. Our calls for special category status and higher import duties on foreign apples have been ignored."

Farmers were hoping for an increase in import duty on foreign apples and a hike in the minimum import price for Iranian apples, but these issues remain unaddressed. Instead, the proposal to increase the import duty on ammonium nitrate—a crucial fertilizer for horticulture crops—from 7.5% to 10% is set to drive up costs.

"The already high cost of fertilizers will only get worse with this increase," warned Bisht.

Adding to the woes, the budget also proposes a 13% cut in fertilizer subsidies, which will further raise the prices of chemical fertilizers. 

The only silver lining is a proposal to set up post-harvest infrastructure through public-private partnerships.

However, Bisht remains skeptical, cautioning that this might benefit big players and lead to monopolies, rather than helping small farmers.

As it stands, the apple farmers feel abandoned, with their concerns seemingly swept under the rug in the latest budget.