Himachal Seb Utpadak Sangh Warns of Livelihood Threat, Urge United Fight Against New Zeland FTA

In a powerful statement of distress, the Himachal Seb Utpadak Sangh (HSUS) has declared that the recently signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Zealand sacrifices the future of India’s hill-state farmers at the altar of international diplomacy. The Association warns that this deal, hailed by the Prime Minister as a “historic achievement,” may instead ring a death knell for countless apple, kiwi, and pear growers across the country.

Effective from the 2026 fruit season, the agreement dramatically slashes import duties—halving the tariff on apples to 25%, eliminating it entirely for kiwi, and reducing it to 16.5% for pears. HSUS leaders argue this move ignores the severe agrarian crisis gripping the fruit-growing heartlands of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the Northeast, where production costs have skyrocketed in recent years.

“Calling this a historic achievement is a shock to us,” the statement reads. “The history being written here protects corporate interests in New Zealand, not the struggling farmers of our Himalayan slopes. When we are already battling rising costs, opening the floodgates to cheaper imports is a direct blow to our survival.”

The Association expressed deep skepticism towards government assurances that seasonal safeguards would protect domestic growers. They contend that imported apples, preserved in Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage, can be released into the market at any time to maximize profit, rendering such restrictions meaningless. The government’s failure to declare a Minimum Import Price (MIP) has been labeled a critical act of dishonesty.

“We urge every farmer and gardener not to be misled by propaganda suggesting the government is on our side,” HSUS cautioned. “This is a time for vigilance and preparation. We must unite to counter these anti-farmer decisions.”

Highlighting a looming crisis, HSUS revealed that similar FTAs with other major apple-producing nations like the United States, Iran, and Turkey are already in the pipeline. These countries, benefiting from higher yields per hectare and substantial government subsidies, pose an existential threat to the less-supported Indian grower.

“This is just the beginning,” the statement warns. “If left unchallenged, these policies will spell the end for India’s apple cultivation. Our only recourse is a determined, collective struggle. To survive, we must be ready to fight for our rights and our land.”

Himachal Seb Utpadak Sangh calls upon all stakeholders and the public to recognize the grave implications of this trade deal and stands in solidarity with farmers across the nation to oppose what they see as a fundamental compromise of their interests.