Shimla, Jan. 13 -- Amid growing apprehensions among apple growers over reduced import duties following India's Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with New Zealand and fears of duty cuts for imports from the United States, the Himachal Pradesh government on Tuesday held a high-level meeting with farmers and horticulture stakeholders to chalk out a response and raise the issue with the Centre.

The meeting, held in Shimla, was attended by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi, and representatives of various farmer and orchardist organisations.

The discussions centred on the rationalisation of import duty on apples from New Zealand from 50 per cent to 25 per cent and concerns that similar or even...