Sweet apples turn sour for Kashmir growers as Bangladesh hikes import duty by 28%

Srinagar: Last month, Mohammad Shafeeq Bhat used to export at least 400 apple boxes to Bangladesh every week.

He would mostly export an American variety of apples to the neighboring country where it is in huge demand.

Come September, his daily export has fallen to 250 boxes, especially after Bangladesh government hiked the export duty on Kashmiri apples by more than 28 percent.

“I have restricted my export to Bangladesh for the last few weeks. We get the same rates outside state markets. Currently, sending apples to Bangladesh markets is not a viable option,” he said.

Bangladesh, which is one of the largest importers of Kashmir apple has hiked the export duty by more than Rs 15 per box.

Growers and exporters said the import duty has reached Rs 55 per box.

“It is a peak apple harvesting season in Kashmir. Its demand in the national and international markets is huge. With this hike, we are made to pay Rs 12 lakhs duty on 25 trucks,” said President, Kashmir Fruit Growers, and Dealers Association, Fayaz Ahmad Malik.

He said this hike has caused a huge loss to the growers and dealers from Kashmir, who have already shipped apples to Bangladesh.

“The dealers have already procured the produce from growers. They were expecting good returns. It is a huge setback to the apple industry of Kashmir, which is already battling illegal imports,” he said.

Malik said the apple rates have dropped by more than 40 percent in the last few weeks to the “unfriendly policy adopted by Bangladesh.”

“A box of American apples would sell at Rs 500-550 a few weeks before. The same box is now selling at Rs 350-400 in Bangladesh,” he said.

Given this hike, the majority of the growers currently prefer to sell their produce in the local and outside J&K markets.

“Currently, a major proportion of apple produce is shipped to Azadpur Fruit Mandi, New Delhi. Apples are also exported to Karnataka, Chennai, Mumbai, Gujarat, and other markets,” said Mohammad Shahbaz a fruit dealer.

Bangladesh is the biggest export market for Kashmiri apples. Over 12,000 metric tonnes of apples are exported to Bangladesh. Likewise, around 8000 metric tonnes of apples are exported to Nepal.

Director horticulture Kashmir Ghulam Rasool Mir was unavailable for comments. Sources, however, said the administration has decided to take up the issue with the Centre.