Srinagar, July 26 -- Smiles have returned to Kashmir fruit growers after apples were excluded from the list of zero-duty items under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union (KVFGDU) said it is a significant step towards protecting the interests of lakhs of apple growers across India, particularly those in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

"Apples have been excluded from the list of zero-duty items. It is a critical and farsighted move that protects the region's horticulture sector from the threat of low-cost imports," said Bashir Ahmad Basheer, Chairman, Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union

Kashmir accounts for more than 75% of the tota...