SHIMLA, July 4: In a major boost for apple growers across Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, the Centre has increased the Minimum Import Price (MIP) on apples from ₹50 to ₹80 per kg. The decision, approved by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on June 3, is aimed at curbing the inflow of cheap imported apples and ensuring fair market prices for domestic produce.
“This is a result of the farmer-friendly approach and strong political will of the Narendra Modi government,” said BJP spokesperson Chetan Singh Bragta on Thursday, adding that the move would help local growers fetch remunerative prices and check the unchecked dumping of imported apples.
The MIP, first introduced in 2023 at ₹50/kg, coupled with a 50% import duty, meant that imported apples landed in India at a base price of ₹75/kg. With the new MIP raised to ₹80/kg, the minimum landed price for imported apples will now be ₹120/kg—marking a significant ₹45 increase that favors Indian growers.
Growers had been demanding this revision for months, arguing that artificially cheap imports were undercutting domestic prices and damaging local markets. Bragta recalled that in 2018, the Centre had banned Chinese apple imports altogether, a move that had also protected Indian growers. “This MIP hike is in line with that policy, and its impact will be felt in the upcoming season,” he said.
While welcoming the step, growers also stressed the need for strict implementation. “This hike will be beneficial to the growers, provided the decision is implemented strictly,” one farmer noted, urging the government to ensure enforcement at ports and market entry points.
The move is being widely seen as a protective buffer for apple-producing states where the fruit remains a major livelihood source, especially during the monsoon and harvest months.
