Srinagar: The apple industry in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) is teetering on the brink of collapse, as the Indian market is being inundated with foreign apple imports, part of a strategy under the Modi government that local growers argue is aimed at undermining Kashmir’s apple production.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Kashmiri apple growers are unable to compete with the influx of cheaper imports from countries like South Africa, despite the high quality of their apples. This has led to significant economic distress, with over 10% of last year’s apple harvest still unsold in cold storages, and prices dropping to record lows. The local apple industry, which supports thousands of farmers and traders, faces severe threats to its viability if the current trends continue. Industry stakeholders are calling on authorities to intervene and regulate imports to safeguard the livelihoods dependent on this sector.