Shimla, Dec. 30 -- Senior Congress leader, All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson and Theog MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore on Monday warned that the proposed reduction in import duty on apples from New Zealand under a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could deal a severe blow to the apple economy of Himachal. Rathore, on Monday met governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and submitted a representation addressed to the Prime Minister of India. Speaking after the meeting, Rathore said the proposed reduction in import duty on New Zealand apples from 50% to 25% effective 2026-27, would further flood Indian markets with cheap imports and push already distressed apple growers into deeper crisis. "Even the earlier reduction in import duty has resulted in a sharp surge in apple imports from countries like China, Turkey, the US, Iran and New Zealand, leading to falling prices for domestic produce," he said. "Apple growers in state are already battling the impact of climate change, rising input costs, labour shortages and shrinking margins. A further cut in import duty will result in loss of market share for Indian apples and will severely depress prices," he said. Highlighting the role of controlled atmosphere storage facilities, Rathore said farmers had invested heavily in CA stores following encouragement and subsidies from the Government of India to stabilise prices and extend the marketing window for domestic apples. "If imported apples continue to enter Indian markets year-round at lower prices, these CA facilities will become economically inviable, causing irreversible losses to farmers," he said.htc...