Stop corporatisation of apple sector: AFFI

Srinagar, July 21: Apple Farmers Federation of India (AFFI) has urged the central government to stop corporatisation of apple industry and put 100 percent import duty on foreign apple.

According to a press release, the demand was made during the two day national coordination committee meeting and public meeting of Apple Farmers Federation of India (AFFI) at Chawalgam in Kulgam today. The meeting was presided over by Rakesh Singha, the national co-coordinator and former MLA from Himachal Pradesh. Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, national coordinator placed the report. Members from Jammu Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand attended the meeting.

“The report adopted demanded immediate as well as policy solutions to prevent corporatisation of apple sector and protect apple farmers by reducing cost of production and ensure remunerative price,” the press release said.

Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami while addressing the public meeting accused the Jammu Kashmir administration for not preventing spurious pesticides and fertilizers and allowing huge profiteering by hiking the price of such inputs. He also flayed the Union Government for giving Controlled Atmosphere Stores (CAS) on rent to corporate companies including Adani group and demanded to provide storage facility at subsidized rate directly to farmers. Government is giving 50 percent subsidy to corporate companies to build CAS to run at commercial rent.

Rakesh Singha accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi for signing agreement with US President Biden to reduce the import duty from 70percent to 50 percent thus facilitating import of Apple. He said Modi Government has been paupurising the farmers by increasing cost of production and denying remunerative procurement price and facilitating corporatisation of Apple Industry. In the domestic market the price of Apple ranges between Rs 250 to Rs500 while the procurement price of farmers is in the range of Rs 30 to Rs 60. Due to Corporatisation of Apple Industry common people are unable to consume Apple. He demanded a price policy to ensure 50 percent of the retail price as the procurement price for farmers.

P Krishnaprasad, AIKS Finance Secretary and former MLA from Kerala congratulated apple farmers of Kashmir for building federation at village level and for their massive participation in the public meeting. He appealed to build vibrant farmers federation in all villages since farmers can fight and win their rights if they are united based on their burning issues. He said the historical farmers struggle in Delhi borders was a game changer and the consistent struggle of farmers as well as workers on livelihood issues have been major factor in the remarkable set back suffered by the BJP- NDA in the recent Lok Sabha election.

Zahor Ahmad Rather, the President of Jammu Kashmir Apple Farmers Federation demanded full cover insurance in the Public Sector for Apple farmers. He also demanded to quarantine the Hybrid plants to prevent diseases in the domestic plantation.

The NCC meeting decided to submit Memorandum to the Prime Minister and Union Minister of Agriculture through Members of Parliament and to the respective Chief Ministers and to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu Kashmir to resolve the immediate and policy demands of Apple farmers.