Anurag Thakur raised the concerns of Himachal’s apple orchardists
2 min read
7 July 2025, Shimla
Former Union Minister and MP from Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency, Anurag Singh Thakur, has written a letter to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, raising the concern of apple orchardists of Himachal Pradesh over the expected tariff reduction on apples imported from the US and has urged for all possible help to the farmers.
In the letter, Anurag Singh Thakur said, “Himachal Pradesh has a leading position in apple production in the country. Himachal Pradesh contributes about 25% of the apple production in the country, which is about 6.5 lakh metric tons annually, which is about Rs 5,000 crore in financial terms. Most of the apple farmers in Himachal Pradesh work on small land holdings ranging between 5 and 10 bighas, and they consider apple farming as their main source of income. Apple farmers of Himachal Pradesh are concerned about the projected tariff reduction on apples imported from the US. Given the ongoing trade discussions between India and the US, these farmers fear that any tariff reduction will have a direct and widespread impact on their livelihood. Currently, the Red Delicious variety of apples imported from the US is already impacting the apple market of Himachal Pradesh, as the cost of production of these apples is lower in the US due to several federal assistance programs compared to apples grown in India. In the event of any further reduction in tariffs, it will result in a steep reduction in import duty, which will further worsen the already existing uneven playing field. It will affect the production of apples in Himachal Pradesh further.”
Anurag Singh Thakur said “Apart from the above, any such reduction in prices of apple imports from the US will also adversely impact the prices of apples imported from other countries like New Zealand, Chile etc. This will have a bad impact on the production and marketing of domestically grown apples, including those from Himachal Pradesh. Such measures will also affect the livelihood of lakhs of people engaged as agricultural laborers, etc., in the apple-growing states of India, particularly Himachal Pradesh. Keeping in view the apprehensions of the apple-growing farmers of Himachal Pradesh, I would like to urge you to consider the distress and interests of these farmers and those who make a living from apple farming while negotiating tariff reduction with the concerned authorities of the US”
