Turkish Apple Boycott Sparks New Growth for Kashmir’s Orchardists
By: Dr Noour Ali Zehgeer
Jammu and Kashmir has seen many situations, where business like Tourism, Handicrafts and Horticulture have suffered, due to political situations, natural calamities and lack of Infrastructure like Cold storages and Transport facilities. Apple growers have faced price challenges against Iran, American and Domestic products.
A growing boycott of Turkish apples across India is being welcomed as a long-awaited lifeline by Kashmiri apple growers, who have endured years of falling profits due to foreign competition. Driven by geopolitical tensions and recent diplomatic strains between India and Turkey, the shift in trade dynamics is now offering renewed hope for the Valley’s struggling horticulture sector.
This surge of optimism follows India’s military campaign, “Operation Sindoor,” after which Turkey’s vocal support for Pakistan prompted widespread backlash. In response, fruit traders in several key agricultural markets have begun rejecting Turkish apples — a move now creating space for domestic producers to reassert their dominance in Indian markets.
Revival Amidst Crisis
‘’This might be the turning point we’ve been waiting for,” said Bashir Ahmad Basheer, President of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Union. “The influx of cheaper Turkish apples had severely dented our earnings. If a ban or strong restrictions are put in place, we could finally regain lost ground.”
Kashmir accounts for nearly 70% of India’s total apple production, yielding about 1.5 million metric tons annually. Despite this substantial output, local growers have faced steep challenges in recent years. Apple imports from countries like Turkey, particularly varieties such as Delicious and Red Gala that mirror Kashmir’s own offerings, have flooded Indian markets and sold at lower prices, undercutting Kashmiri farmers.
As competition increased, many orchardists saw their income shrink. Skyrocketing input costs including labour, fertilizers, and transport — have further worsened the situation, especially for small and medium-scale growers. Some families even considered abandoning the trade altogether.
Iranian Apples: The Bigger Threat?
While Turkish imports have been the immediate focus of the boycott, local horticulturists emphasize that another player looms even larger: Iranian apples.
“Iranian apples pose the greatest threat to our market,” Basheer added. “They enter India in huge quantities, often through indirect routes, and are priced 15-20% lower than our produce. We’re urging the government to impose a protective import duty on these apples to give Indian growers a fighting chance.”
Growers across Kashmir argue that unless both Turkish and Iranian imports are regulated, local cultivation will continue to suffer. Many believe that the current geopolitical moment should be leveraged to build long-term policies that protect India’s horticulture sector from market flooding and price suppression.
Economic Ripple Effect
Agricultural experts note that any improvement in the apple sector would directly impact Kashmir’s economy, which relies heavily on horticulture. With around 700,000 families in the region involved in apple farming, even modest improvements in pricing can create widespread socio-economic benefits.
“Apple growing is more than just a livelihood here — it’s the backbone of our rural economy,” said a senior agricultural economist based in Srinagar. “Half the population in the Valley is connected to this industry in some way. An upswing in domestic demand and pricing would be transformative.”
Early indications suggest this could be the best harvest in recent years. Weather conditions in spring have been ideal for fruit development, and growers are expecting a bumper crop. If Indian markets continue distancing themselves from Turkish produce, local farmers may be ideally placed to step in and fill the supply gap.
Himachal Pradesh Joins Forces
It isn’t only Kashmiri growers who are demanding action. Apple cultivators from Himachal Pradesh — another major apple-producing state — have also raised the alarm over Turkish imports. In a recent meeting with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, representatives of the Himalayan Apple Growers Society submitted a memorandum requesting an immediate ban on Turkish apples. The delegation emphasized that Turkish apples, subsidized by their government, were severely disrupting India’s domestic apple economy. They also raised security concerns, citing Turkey’s military ties with Pakistan.
“Importing goods from a country that supports our adversaries’ compromises both our economy and national interests,” the memorandum stated. “We must prioritize our own farmers and strategic autonomy.”
The Himachal growers stressed that apple cultivation supports millions across the Himalayan belt, and that the current situation is threatening their very survival.
Future at the Crossroads
Despite growing optimism, experts caution that the current momentum may not last unless it is institutionalized through policy. While market boycotts are effective in the short term, lasting change will require structured reforms, including import duties, tighter customs monitoring, and government incentives for local horticulture.
“There’s a real opportunity here,” said the economist. “But it has to be seized with clear policy actions, not just emotion-driven boycotts. Otherwise, the same problems will resurface the moment the public attention wanes.”
Farmers and trade unions are now looking toward the Centre, hopeful that the government will take concrete steps to protect India’s apple industry. They are also calling for support in marketing, cold storage infrastructure, and export facilitation to make Indian apples more competitive globally.
A Glimpse of Recovery
For now, Kashmir’s orchards are alive with cautious optimism. In villages across the Valley, apple growers are preparing for the coming harvest with renewed enthusiasm. They hope that a combination of favourable weather, reduced imports, and rising domestic demand will offer a new lease of life to their age-old tradition.
It is very important that Government provide sufficient support in terms of Technology, financial assistance, latest methods to improve production, packaging and Marketing for the Apple Growers, so that revival becomes eminent and prosperity returns to Apple growing districts.
While the future remains uncertain, the boycott of Turkish apples has undeniably shifted the mood — from despair to possibility. Whether this marks a temporary reprieve or the beginning of long-term reform depends on what happens next in Delhi’s corridors of power.
