Protests in Himachal Pradesh's Apple Bowl Can Jam Political Futures

The 'apple bowl' of the hill state of Himachal Pradesh is witnessing unrest once again. This time this may have political ramifications as the state heads towards an Assembly poll in around four months, which is also the apple harvest season. Apple growers have taken to the streets, and the protest earlier this week in Rohru was an impressive show of strength. A call has been given for another demonstration on July 20.

Cutting across political and other affiliations, the apple growers of HP have gathered under the banner of Sanyukta Kisan Manch (SKM). The apple growers are raising concerns about growing unemployment, the rising input costs and not getting adequate returns in the market. This they say has made the situation alarming as it has had a compounding impact on threat to livelihood. The SKM has pointed out that almost 89 % of the state's population is rural, and depends on horticulture and agriculture for their livelihood. Corporates procuring the produce at a lower price, deprives horticulturists of adequate remuneration in the government mandis, has added to their woes.

Over the decades Himachal Pradesh has witnessed a shift in agriculture. More farmers are moving away from traditional cultivation, towards cash crops. Along with apples, the state produces stone fruit such as plums, apricots and peaches. Vegetables including peas, cauliflower, capsicum, beans, tomato, ginger, turmeric and garlic are also grown. But apples remain the dominant crop with its economy across the state amounting to more than Rs 5500 crores.

The SKM claims that the institutions like Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) that were entrusted with the tasks of protecting interests of the farmers and developing mandis, have failed. This has led to the producers not getting optimum returns, as well as delays in the payments that are now running into years.

The protesting apple growers' set of demands have been listed by the SKM in the memorandum submitted to the administration on July 12, after the Rohru demonstration. These include withdrawal of the recent hike in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the cartons and trays. This hike resulted in unrest and has been raised as a political issue by the Opposition Congress as well as the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

The CPI (M)'s lone legislator Rakesh Singha has been the most vocal in airing the concerns of the apple growers. Sanjay Chauhan, the former Mayor of Shimla said, "Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur himself needs to intervene in the matters pertaining to the apple growers." Even the rookie Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has demanded a roll back of the GST hike.

Reports in a section of the media say that the issue has been taken up by the state administration with the union finance ministry. The state administration also plans to take it up in the next meeting of the GST Council.

Congress spokesperson Devendra Bushehri also issued a statement, "due to the skyrocketing prices of the cartons, the horticulturists are facing great difficulties in getting their apples to the mandis. Last year a bundle of hundred trays which was available for Rs.450 to Rs.500 is now available for Rs.700 to Rs.800 per bundle. Similarly, last year, it was available for Rs 45 to Rs 65 per box, this time you have to pay Rs 60 to Rs 80."

Another demand raised in the context of apples, is the implementation of market intervention scheme (MIS) on the lines of neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir. This includes procuring grade A, B and C apples at a price of Rs 60, Rs 44 and Rs 24 per kg respectively. They demman proper implementation of the APMC Act to ensure transparent procurement of produce, and that no extra charges are imposed on the producer.

The producers want the corporate entities that have set up 'controlled atmosphere stores', to honour the commitment they gave to provide 25 % storage space to local horticulturists.

Another demand is the immediate release of pending payments to the apple producers. Payments are pending only from commission agents, but also agencies like Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) and Himachal Pradesh State Co-operative Marketing and Consumers Federation Limited (HIMFED). The apple producers are also seeking measures to reduce freight charges, and the revival of subsidies on various articles that make up the input cost.

Apple producing areas cover at least 21 of the total 68 assembly seats spread over eight districts of the state. "The failure of the state government to call representatives of apple growers for talks for the last two years reflects the anti farmer attitude of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The protests on July 20 will be held at the block level," said Sanjay Chauhan.

"The non-redressal of grievances of apple growers will definitely have an impact on the forthcoming polls. The apple industry is feeling sidelined and cheated," added Rohit Thakur, the Congress legislator representing the apple producing Jubbal-Kotkhai constituency. He added that the corporate entities procuring apple produce are paying the farmers rates set in 2013-14.

"The central government has also failed to provide respite to the local apple growers by not increasing import duty on apples coming from Iran. We have demanded that the duty be increased by at least three times of the present rate, to protect the domestic producers from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand or the North East. We have just been getting 'assurances' on this since 2014," Chauhan told The Citizen.

He disclosed that at least three crore boxes of domestic produce are stored, to be sold during the off season at attractive rates. But over the last several years apple imports from Iran and Turkey and some other places have added to the local growers' problems. These imports, particularly from Iran, are high in volume and are low in cost.

Reportedly apples from Iran were previously coming via Afghanistan and Pakistan to avoid import duty under South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) provisions. But the regime change in Afghanistan has led to the produce coming from the sea route. Yet it continues to be quite cheap. This leaves the local producers of India in the lurch.