US tariff hike hits Kashmir horticulture sector as orders dry up

Kashmir: Furqan Akbar, a 26-year-old Pulwama-based entrepreneur, started a fruit export business in 2021, sending his products to the United States. His company made rapid progress, generating nearly US $1 lakh every year from the US market. However, his business is hit by the new 50 per cent export tariff announced by the US President Donald Trump on Indian goods. Since then new orders have dried up for Furqan.

He has not been purchasing fresh stock from growers due to lack of market. “Orders have dried up; it’s a major setback,” Furqan said. He used to export saffron, and most of his customers were US-based. The cost of walnuts and almonds has increased from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,800 per kilo, forcing US customers to look for other markets.

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Kashmir’s horticulture sector is on the receiving end amid the tariff hike. Farmers are struggling to cope with imports of Washington apples and California walnuts and almonds. Jammu and Kashmir is a major producer of walnuts in the country, yielding 3.5 lakh quintals annually.

As per the local growers’ imports, reduction from the US has marred demand and prices. Hence, they are demanding that the authorities raise tariffs on imported apples and dry fruits for the survival of the horticulture farmers of Kashmir and make amends for the farmers' and exporters' losses.