Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday that the central government will look into the demands of Kashmiri apple producers for more security against imports.
Goyal was addressing a trade closing organized by the Federation of Trade and Industry of India (FTII) in Srinagar. The conclave also included Jammu -Kashmir Cabinet Minister Satish Sharma, Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana and the President of National Trade Welfare Board Sunil Singh.
Goyal said that he would “talk to the Ministry of Agriculture” on the demands of apple growers. He said that the stakeholders of the apple industry have requested for the protection of apple fruit from imports.
“The industry has requested for greater security on this fruit, which currently attracts the minimum import price (MIP) of Rs 50 per kg and 50 percent import duty,” said Goyal. He said that after factoring in all costs, consumers pay Rs 125 to Rs 150 per kg. He said that there is a need to balance the interests of producers and consumers.
While the production of apples from Kashmir and Himachal is given to different parts of the country, India still imports about six lakh tonnes of apples to meet the decrease. On a suggestion from the handicraft industry of the central region to reduce GST by 12 percent, Goyal said that he would raise the issue.
“I will see how to bring it to 5 percent bracket,” he said. “But we will try to find a solution”.
On the initiative terrorist attack, Goyal said that the people of Kashmir had “given an answer to the terrorists”.
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