SHIMLA, 24 June — Apple growers across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir have announced a coordinated protest on July 9 in opposition to the Centre’s reported move to reduce or eliminate import tariffs on apples from the United States.
The protest will be held under the joint banner of the Himachal Pradesh Apple Growers Association and the Apple Farmers Federation of India (AFFI), which made the announcement at a recent joint conference. Farmers have termed the reported tariff revision a direct threat to the survival of apple cultivation in India’s northern hill states.
“This move would devastate lakhs of orchardists in Himachal, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir. It is shocking that instead of protecting local growers, the government is considering opening up the market to imported apples,” said a spokesperson of AFFI.
The farmers’ associations cited recent recommendations by Niti Aayog, which reportedly suggested making US apples tariff-free, as a worrying sign that policy changes are imminent. They also pointed to earlier statements by US President Donald Trump, who had advocated for reduced tariffs on American agricultural exports — including apples — during his administration. Growers fear those ideas are now being implemented through trade agreements or policy shifts.
In response, the two associations have decided to intensify their agitation by partnering with workers’ unions and launching block- and district-level protests throughout Himachal Pradesh, with parallel campaigns planned in Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir.
“We will not sit quietly while our livelihoods are sacrificed for trade deals. Apple farming sustains entire economies in these states,” said a representative from the Himachal Apple Growers Association.
The growers have also resolved to approach their respective state governments. They will urge the Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and J&K to raise the issue directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking an assurance that domestic apple farmers will not be undercut by duty-free imports.
With the July 9 protest, the farmers aim to send a strong message to the Centre, demanding policies that prioritise local agriculture over international trade concessions.
