Financial Express | By ASHOK B SHARMA | March 21, 2004
The rising inflow of fresh exotic apples into the country has invited concerns for the growers and the domestic industry Apple growers and the industry have blamed the government for allowing imports of `diseased apples' without any proper quarantine checks.
The government, on the otherhand, has planned a $ 306,000 18-month demonstration project for boosting the productivity and production of apples in Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal with the assistance of UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Kashmir, the major producing state of premium grade apples is, however, not covered under this project. Also the apple producing regions of northeastern India which are in need of proper development strategies are also excluded.
Sources in the government department said that as apple is a politically sensitive commodity in Himachal Pradesh, the state was selected for the demonstration project.
Apple imports shot up from Rs 210.82 million in 2000-01 to Rs 551.229 million in 2001-02. In quantity terms the import rose from 6673.25 thousand kg in 2000-01 to 16941.60 thousand kg in 2001-02.
In 2002-03 though in value terms the imports marginally declined to Rs 507.925 million of fluctuations in rupee-dollar value, in quantity terms it was much higher at 18206.17 thousand kg.
According to available data the apple imports in the first three months of 2003-04 fiscal year has already touched the level of 12586.87 thousand kg worth Rs 363.18 million. The rising trend in imports is, therefore clear and evident.
In terms of quantity, US, China, Australia and New Zealand are major exporters to India. Other exporting countries are Argentina, Austria, Chile, Iran, France and South Africa. Brazil, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Tanzania and Ukraine has begun exporting apples to India in 2003-04. Import figures of apples from Canada, Taiwan, France, Hungary, Italy, Nepal, The Netherlands, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, UAE, UK and Vietnam are not yet reflected in the first three months data of 2003-04, though these countries have exported apples to India in earlier years. Possible the reason is the counter-seasonality in production in some of these countries or low carryover stock at the beginning of the current fiscal year in India.
In 2002-03 US exported 6735.64 thousand kg of apples worth Rs 175.531 million. In the first three months of 2003-04, US exported 2951.35 thousand kg of apples to India worth Rs 78.876 million. In 2002-03 China exported 3244.29 thousand kg apples worth Rs 87.768 million. In the first three months of 2003-04 Chinese exports of apple was 745.31 thousand kg worth Rs 19.092 million. In 2002-03 Australia exported 4854.85 thousand kg of apples to India worth Rs 143.708 million. In the first three months of 2003-04 Australian exports was higher at 5516.62 thousand kg worth Rs 161.71 million. In 2002-03 New Zealand exported 2381.94 thousand kg of apples to India worth Rs 75.363 million. In the first three months of 2003-04 New Zealand exported 2359.24 thousand kg of apples worth Rs 73.845 million.
Speaking to FE, the executive director of the Centre for International Trade in Agriculture and Agro-based Industries (CITA), Vijay Sardana said "sadly, the Indian government has not yet instituted any such quarantine checks at the points of entry to check imported apples. There are ample reasons to believe that many of these imported apples may contain exotic pests of quarantine concern to India. If proper quarantine checks are not conducted there are chances of these exotic pests creating havoc in this country. Most of these countries, taking advantage of the situation in India are can find easy access to dump diseased apples in this country."
Mr Sardana listed as many as 381 pests occurring on apples grown world over. He said that out of these 381 pests only 111 are found in India. There are 184 pests occuring on apples grown in US out of which 87 are of serious concern to India. In China there are 119 pests occuring on apples out of which 39 are of serious concern to India. Similarly in Australia there are 95 pests occurring on apples, out of which 20 are of serious concern to India and in New Zealand there are 119 pests occuring on apples out of which 16 are of serious concern to India.
According to available data 56.21 million tonne of apples are produced in the world over an area of 5.42 million hectare. The world average productivity level of apple is 10.37 tonne per hectare. China's share in apple production is the largest at 36.66 per cent, producing 20.60 million tonne per year. But US leds in productivity at 26.50 tonne per hectare while China's productivity level is marginally lower than the world average being at 9.16 tonne per hectare. Next to US in productivity level is Turkey with 20.25 tonne per hectare. US share in global apple output is 7.54 per cent and that of Turkey is 3.91 per cent.
India, though has larger area under apple production than US and Turkey, but less than that of China, has low average productivity level of 4.8 tonne per hectare. India's share in global apple output is 2.05 per cent. It produces 1.15 million tonne annually over an area of 0.24 million hectare.
In India, Kashmir is the major producer producing 909.6 thousand tonne over an area of 90.1 thousand hectare. Its productivity level is 10.1 tonne per hectare. Himachal Pradesh has larger apple area of 92.8 thousand hectare but it produces 180.6 thousand tonne annually and its productivity level is low at 1.93 tonne per hectare. Besides, Kashmir grows premium varieties like Amri, American trel (American Apirogue), red delicious apple, Maharaji (white dotted red), Hazaratbali (Benoni) and Kesri (Cox's Orange Pippin).
Uttaranchal with 51.8 thousand hectare under apple produces 59.3 thousand tonne and has a low procuctivity yield of 1.14 tonne per hectare. In northeast India Arunachal Pradesh is the major producer. It produces 8.5 million tonne annually over an area of 6.7 thousand hectare with a productivity level of 1.3 tonne per hectare.Financial Express:
