Saving Kashmiri apple

Kashmir’s apple is not a luxury item, it is a source of sustenance, employment, and dignity

The boycott of Turkish apples, driven by geopolitical tensions and Ankara’s alignment with Pakistan, is expected to benefit local growers. But even before orchardists could catch their breath, a new threat is brewing, this time from Washington.

Reports of possible tariff concessions on American apples as part of a trade deal with the United States have left growers in the Valley anxious. For a sector that produces nearly 70% of India’s apples, this is more than a trade issue, it’s a question of survival. In Kashmir itself, apple farming is one of the primary sources of employment, engaging nearly 3.5 million farmers, which constitutes 27 percent of the region’s population. The export of apples contributes over 8 percent to the region’s GDP.

Over the years, cheaper imports from countries like Turkey and Iran, often subsidised, have flooded Indian markets, undercutting Kashmir’s produce and pushing growers to the brink. Many of these orchardists are small landholders with few buffers against price shocks. The boycott of Turkish apples may have brought temporary relief, but Iranian apples continue to eat into domestic demand. Adding US apples to that list could be disastrous.

Any trade agreement with the United States must explicitly protect domestic agriculture. Kashmir’s apple growers cannot be collateral damage in a wider diplomatic bargain. American apples, backed by superior cold chain systems and large-scale efficiencies, will enter Indian markets at competitive prices, and overwhelm an already fragile ecosystem.

The Centre must act. That means standing firm on high import duties, refusing to concede to pressures that jeopardise rural livelihoods, and offering structural support to the apple economy: better storage infrastructure, predictable pricing, and protection from unfair competition.

This is not just about apples. It’s about safeguarding the economic spine of an entire region. Kashmir’s apple is not a luxury item, it is a source of sustenance, employment, and dignity. Protecting it is not charity, it should be the policy of the government.