Himachal Pradesh Farmers on India Budget 2024: Farmers of Himachal Pradesh have termed the budget as disappointing. The major demands of 100 percent duty on apple import and GST exemption on agricultural inputs have not been met in the Union Budget. They said that the budget of Modi Government 3.0 has disappointed them. No relief has been announced for apple producers in the budget.
Harish Chauhan, president of the Fruit Vegetable Flower Producers Association, said the hopes of Himachal Pradesh farmers have been dashed. A 100 per cent import duty on apples was demanded to prevent import of cheap apples. Their main demand has not been addressed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget. “We are demanding exemption in GST on agricultural inputs and equipment, but the government has not done anything in this regard,” he said in a video message.
Farmers of Himachal Pradesh are not happy with the budget
Let us tell you that apple cultivation is mainly done in Shimla, Mandi, Kullu and Kinnaur districts and Chamba, Sirmaur, Lahaul and Spiti, Kangra and Solan districts. Apple cultivation is spread over an area of 1,15,680 hectares in 21 assembly constituencies.
There was a demand for 100 percent import duty on apples
According to government data, the apple economy in the state is estimated to be Rs 5,000 crore. Currently, the import duty on apples is 50 percent. More than three lakh families are directly related to apple production.
Chauhan said, “Though the scheme announced for marketing and cold chain in clusters for vegetable growers is welcome, it will be difficult for the farmers of the state to avail the benefits of this scheme as the land holdings in Himachal Pradesh are small and it is difficult to form clusters.”