JKPICCA submits policy plea to Shivraj Singh Chouhan
By: Mushtaq ul Islam
Srinagar: In a significant push to safeguard the future of apple growers and horticulturists across northern India, the Jammu & Kashmir Post-Harvest Infrastructure & Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA) submitted a comprehensive memorandum to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The appeal calls for urgent policy measures to support farmers in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, particularly in the face of low-cost imports and inadequate infrastructure.
The memorandum, dated July 4, 2025, outlines nine key demands focusing on import protection, high-density farming, cold chain expansion, and export infrastructure, a statement issued by the organisation said.
The association urged the government to increase the Minimum Import Price (MIP) for apples from ₹50 to ₹100 per kg and strengthen import duties, citing drastically lower production costs in countries like the U.S. and Iran.
“Our growers cannot compete with imports priced below our cost of production,” JKPICCA warned.
Other demands include boosting the High-Density Plantation (HDP) scheme under MIDH with an 80% fund allocation, subsidy for modern orchard machinery, and immediate notification of HDP under the Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) to enable access to institutional loans.
Highlighting regional disparities, the memorandum stresses the need for equitable cold storage development beyond the saturated districts of Shopian and Pulwama. It also seeks a ban on the sale of duty-free imported apples in HPMC mandis, which threaten domestic market stability.
JKPICCA further proposed solar rooftop incentives for cold storages and orchards, modernization of the PM Fasal Bima Yojana in J&K and the establishment of an Inland Container Depot (ICD) and air cargo terminal for cherries in Srinagar. The installation of anti-hail cannons was also emphasized as a preventive step against climate-induced losses.
JKPICCA President Bashir Ahmad Naik has requested a meeting with the Union Minister, along with an eight-member delegation representing all three hill states.
If accepted, these measures could mark a turning point for India’s temperate horticulture sector, potentially securing livelihoods for over 10 lakh farmers.
