SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh wants higher import duty on apple juice concentrate from China, saying this was necessary to save the domestic industry.
Apple concentrate is used for fruit juices, nectars and drinks.
“We are facing tough competition from China, which is marketing the apple juice concentrate at much lower prices in the country,” Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta told reporters here Sunday.
According to him, China is selling the apple concentrate to Indian food and beverage companies at Rs.45-50 per kg whereas the concentrate produced by the state-run Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corp (HPMC) is sold at Rs.80 per kg.
“The cost of production of the concentrate here is Rs.70-75 per kilogram but the Chinese are selling it at Rs.45-50, which also includes the import duty,” he added.
Bragta said the import duty on Chinese juice concentrate should be increased to save the domestic apple fruit industry.
“The import duty should be increased to 75 percent from 37.5 percent,” he said, adding that “under the World Trade Organisation regime, anti-dumping duty up to 75 per cent could be imposed to protect the economic interests after designating the juice concentrate as a special product”.
HPMC procures the apples directly from farmers. In 2008-09, of the 21,400 tonnes procured, about 8,000 tonnes were processed.
It had produced over 721 tonnes of juice concentrate, of which 400 tonnes are lying unsold.
“Last year, Parle Agro was our major buyer, but this time there is hardly any bulk order,” an HPMC official said.
Other companies that buy the apple concentrate include Godrej Industries, Nestle and Mohan Meakin.
Himachal Pradesh is one of India’s major apple-producing regions, with more than 200,000 families engaged in the cultivation of the fruit.
The state produced 510,000 tonnes of apples in 2008-09, though less than the 593,000 tonnes produced in 2007-08.
The apple economy of the state is around Rs.1,500 crore and flourishes mainly in Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Chamba districts.
Related News
Himachal apple concentrate production hitOctober 11th, 2009 SHIMLA - The decline in apple cultivation in Himachal Pradesh has left apple concentrate production by the state's horticulture department high and dry. The total apple production this season will be around 18 million boxes of 25 kg each, considerably less than last year's 26 million crates, Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta said.
Delicious Kinnaur apples dominate markets despite low yieldOctober 4th, 2009 SHIMLA - The world famous Delicious apples from Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district have recaptured the Indian markets this year despite low production and the farmers are getting record prices due to increased demand, an official said Sunday. "The apple harvesting season from Kinnaur has picked up.
Himachal Pradesh despatches 74 lakh boxes of applesSeptember 23rd, 2009 SHIMLA - The apple season in Himachal Pradesh has finally picked up with 7,400,000 boxes having been transported out of the state. "The apple season is in full swing and 74 lakh boxes have reached various markets in the country.
Apple show in Himachal PradeshSeptember 5th, 2009 SHIMLA - An exhibition of apples was organised at Kotkhai, 60 kilometres off Shimla, to showcase special varieties of the fruit and promote them among the orchard owners and growers. The exhibition happened to mark the silver jubilee of the annual Apple Show in which 452 farmers exhibited 30 advanced varieties of apples.
Himachal Pradesh to hold apple festivalSeptember 3rd, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh will hold a two-day apple festival here from Oct 3 to promote the fruit it is famous for, Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop said Thursday. "The state government in collaboration with the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) is holding an 'Apple Festival-09' in Shimla Oct 3 to 4," Swaroop told IANS.
Low apple production causes unemployment in Himachal PradeshAugust 31st, 2009 SHIMLA - The low apple crop production in Himachal Pradesh has led to loss of business and unemployment in the state. Many people have been left jobless in the state, as apple crop production has come down by almost seventy five percent.
Rail passengers will get Himachal apple juiceAugust 1st, 2009 SHIMLA - Train travellers will soon be able to quaff apple juice from Himachal Pradesh with Indian Railways deciding to serve it on important trains, state Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta said Saturday. "The state government and the railways have reached an understanding under which packaged juices made from Himachal Pradesh apples would be provided to the passengers," Bragta told reporters.
Himachal Pradesh demands hike in rural job fundJuly 25th, 2009 SHIMLA - The Himachal Pradesh government Saturday demanded a hike in the financial assistance provided to it under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). "We have urged the central government to provide us an additional grant of Rs.24 crore annually to reimburse the hike in wages under NREGS," state Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Jai Ram Thakur told reporters.
Scant rainfall affects apple crop in ShimlaJuly 21st, 2009 SHIMLA - Apple growers in Shimla are a worried lot as scant rainfall has hit apple yield. "No use of the rains as majority of our crop has ruined.
Increase import duty on apple juice concentrate: HimachalJuly 4th, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh has requested the central government to increase the import duty on apple juice concentrate to save the domestic industry. Himachal Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta Saturday met Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma in New Delhi and apprised him of the threats to this sector from Chinese companies, a state government statement said.
Pre-monsoon showers bring relief in HimachalJune 29th, 2009 SHIMLA - Pre-monsoon showers in Shimla and other parts of Himachal Pradesh Monday brought much relief from the scorching heat, weather officials here said. "Pre-monsoon showers Monday early morning brought much relief from the prolonged heat wave in various areas of Shimla, Kangra and Mandi districts," meteorological office director Manmohan Singh told IANS.
Cherry prospects look cheery in Himachal PradeshApril 28th, 2009 SHIMLA - Cherry growers in Himachal Pradesh, often called the country's fruit bowl, are hoping for a bumper crop. 'We are expecting a bumper cherry crop because of the favourable climatic conditions in the flowering season (March-April).
Himachal to market apple waste manureJanuary 15th, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh will market organic manure produced from apple solid waste, a senior official said Friday. 'We will market organic manure produced from apple pomace (solid waste left after extraction of juice from fruit),' said Bharat Khera, managing director of Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Processing and Marketing Corp (HPMC).
Farmers in Himachal Pradesh turn to kiwi cultivationJanuary 12th, 2009 SHIMLA - Fruit growers in Himachal Pradesh are increasingly taking to commercial cultivation of the exotic kiwi fruit. Horticulture experts say it's a good step towards crop diversification and fetching them good returns too.
Snowfall raises hopes of good apple harvest in HimachalJanuary 6th, 2009 SHIMLA - Farmers and horticulture experts are hoping that the light to moderate snowfall in the mid hills of Himachal Pradesh during the past few days after a long dry spell would ensure a good apple harvest this year too. 'The onset of the snowfall season in the apple-growing belt would prove to be a boon for farmers.
Loading ...