Traders at Vashi APMC market boycott Turkish apples
Every year, the APMC market receives large quantities of Turkish apples, which are famed for their quality and sweetness and priced at around ₹140 per kilogram, compared to ₹90-120 per kilo for apples from other regions. The apples start arriving in October and continue till the middle of the year, said former APMC director (fruit) Sanjay Pansare.
Vijay Bhende, a fruit trader at the APMC market, said India imported around 1.18 million tonnes of Turkish apples this season, valued at over ₹1,000 crore. Nearly 1,000 containers of Turkish apples were consumed in Mumbai alone, said Pansare.
'Imports of Turkish apples had surged in recent years,' said Pansare. 'But Turkey's siding with Pakistan has hurt us badly. We will not do any business with them henceforth.'
The current season for Turkish apples was coming to an end and only a limited quantity was still left in the market, he said.
'New orders for Turkish apples are placed June onwards, by traders who often go to Turkey to strike deals. But we have decided that no orders will be placed for Turkish apples, cherries and other fruits this year,' he said.
Traders at the APMC market concurred that they had collectively decided to stop trading in Turkish apples and other fruits.
'We cannot be doing business with a country that is opposed to India,' Bhende told Hindustan Times. 'We will import more apples from South Africa, United States and Iran, which are also popular, to meet the shortfall in supply.'
Another trader said they were trying to sell their existing stock of Turkish apples claiming the fruits were imported from South Africa.
'But the ploy does not work in all cases,' the trader said. 'Regular retailers can identify Turkish apples, which are sweeter than the South African ones. So we have no option but to lower the price of Turkish apples and sell them along with apples imported from other countries.'
The mood among retailers was similar. Rizwan Shaikh, a retailer from Mumbai, said though the demand for vibrant red Turkish apples had been growing in recent years, things changed following the conflict with Pakistan.
'Turkish apples are crisp and sweet and align with the taste preferences of Indians. But since Turkey backed Pakistan during the recent conflict, there is a need to send out a strong message. Hitting them financially is the way to do it,' said Shaikh.
Even consumers are no more interested in buying apples imported from Turkey, the retailer said. 'People are now asking us if the apples we are selling are imported from Turkey,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Trump tariffs may cost South Africa 100,000 jobs: Central bank chief
US President Donald Trump's tariffs on South Africa could cause around 100,000 job losses, with the agriculture and automotive sectors hardest-hit, central bank governor Lesetja Kganyago said on Wednesday. Kganyago told local radio station 702 that the impact of the 30 per cent tariff, which Africa's biggest economy faces from August 1, could cause significant damage to specific industries. "The impact in agriculture could actually be quite devastating because agriculture employs a lot of low-skilled workers, and here the impact is on citrus fruit, table grapes and wines," Kganyago said. He said statistics showing South African car exports to the United States slumped more than 80 per cent in the wake of import tariffs imposed on cars by the Trump administration in April were very concerning. "If we do not find alternative measures the impact on jobs could be around 100,000, so that is what we actually face," the governor said. South Africa already has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, with the official rate sitting at 32.9 per cent in the first quarter of this year and an expanded definition at 43.1 per cent. Farmer groups have also warned of the adverse impact of the tariffs on producers of citrus, macadamia nuts, grapes, wine, fruit juices and ostrich leather. In the citrus sector alone the tariffs have put 35,000 jobs in jeopardy and threaten to devastate towns such as Citrusdal in the Western Cape that are heavily dependent on exports to the U.S.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Govt To Introduce National Agri-Market Policy To Boost Farmer Earnings
Nagpur: The Maharashtra government will soon unveil a national market policy aimed at ensuring better prices for farmers' produce. "The government is committed to farmer-centric reforms. To help farmers secure fair prices for their crops, we will soon introduce a national-level market framework," said marketing minister Jaykumar Rawal in the legislative assembly on Tuesday. He was responding to a notice raised by MLA Krishna Khopde regarding irregularities at the Nagpur Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC). The minister's statement came amid a heated debate in the assembly, where legislators Pravin Datke and Ashish Deshmukh also questioned the functioning and regulatory oversight at the Nagpur APMC. Rawal confirmed that serious irregularities had been identified in a recent inquiry, and disciplinary action had already begun. A fact-finding report submitted by the PL Khandagale Committee prompted the district deputy registrar of co-operative societies in Nagpur to initiate a second round of inquiries into the market's operations. The probe focused on 51 commission agents (locally known as 'bakra dalals'), three of whom were found to be deceased. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Lợi ích khi giao dịch CFD Bitcoin IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Notices were issued to the remaining 48 agents, asking them to justify why their licences should not be suspended. "Since their responses were unsatisfactory, the licences of all 48 agents were suspended," Rawal said. However, the suspension has since been stayed by the court, and the matter is now sub judice. Rawal added that officials and secretaries found complicit in the APMC malpractice will also face consequences. "If required, we will refer the matter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau for further investigation," he said. The proposed national market policy is expected to integrate local mandis with broader trading platforms, allowing farmers to access prices beyond regional constraints. While specific details of the policy are yet to be disclosed, officials say the objective is to eliminate middlemen exploitation and bring transparency to procurement processes. Maharashtra has long faced persistent challenges in its agricultural marketing system, including price manipulation, weak enforcement, and collusion between traders and officials. The new initiative, if effectively implemented, could address some of these entrenched inefficiencies and help ensure better income realisation for farmers, an official said. Nagpur: The Maharashtra government will soon unveil a national market policy aimed at ensuring better prices for farmers' produce. "The government is committed to farmer-centric reforms. To help farmers secure fair prices for their crops, we will soon introduce a national-level market framework," said marketing minister Jaykumar Rawal in the legislative assembly on Tuesday. He was responding to a notice raised by MLA Krishna Khopde regarding irregularities at the Nagpur Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC). The minister's statement came amid a heated debate in the assembly, where legislators Pravin Datke and Ashish Deshmukh also questioned the functioning and regulatory oversight at the Nagpur APMC. Rawal confirmed that serious irregularities had been identified in a recent inquiry, and disciplinary action had already begun. A fact-finding report submitted by the PL Khandagale Committee prompted the district deputy registrar of co-operative societies in Nagpur to initiate a second round of inquiries into the market's operations. The probe focused on 51 commission agents (locally known as 'bakra dalals'), three of whom were found to be deceased. Notices were issued to the remaining 48 agents, asking them to justify why their licences should not be suspended. "Since their responses were unsatisfactory, the licences of all 48 agents were suspended," Rawal said. However, the suspension has since been stayed by the court, and the matter is now sub judice. Rawal added that officials and secretaries found complicit in the APMC malpractice will also face consequences. "If required, we will refer the matter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau for further investigation," he said. The proposed national market policy is expected to integrate local mandis with broader trading platforms, allowing farmers to access prices beyond regional constraints. While specific details of the policy are yet to be disclosed, officials say the objective is to eliminate middlemen exploitation and bring transparency to procurement processes. Maharashtra has long faced persistent challenges in its agricultural marketing system, including price manipulation, weak enforcement, and collusion between traders and officials. The new initiative, if effectively implemented, could address some of these entrenched inefficiencies and help ensure better income realisation for farmers, an official said.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Can India make filing taxes as easy as a phone recharge? CoinSwitch's Ashish Singhal thinks it should
Ashish Singhal , co-founder of CoinSwitch , has called out a reality check for India's salaried workers and startup employees. Many are shifting to the new tax regime , enjoying more take-home pay. But Singhal asks if this extra cash is building better discipline or just giving people more room to delay the annual tax scramble. 'Only 6.7% of Indians filed ITRs last year,' Singhal wrote in a LinkedIn post that's got people talking. 'Even among those who want to comply — salaried folks, startup employees — filing is often treated as a last-minute emergency.' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Artificial Intelligence Public Policy Design Thinking MBA Management Operations Management Product Management healthcare CXO MCA Cybersecurity Data Science Data Analytics Degree Digital Marketing Leadership Healthcare Finance Others Technology Project Management Data Science others PGDM Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details India's tax system has come a long way. There are smoother online portals now, simpler forms and digital payment options. All this should make tax filing easier than ever. But for many, it's still a once-a-year panic. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo Singhal summed it up well: 'Deadlines shift. Habits don't.' He believes India's low digital tax participation is a blind spot. 'Low digital tax-participation is a blind spot. The system's getting smarter, but not easier,' he said. Live Events Millions wait until the last week of July to hunt for documents, receipts and old bank statements. It's become a ritual. Newer tools help, but convenience still hasn't caught up with intent. The new regime's bigger promise Under the new tax regime, people keep more of their money. But does it lead to better planning? Singhal is not so sure. He asked, 'As users get more liquidity under the new tax regime, are we helping them build financial discipline or just giving them more runway?' His warning is clear. Unless this extra liquidity is paired with better habits, it risks being wasted. Bigger pay slips mean nothing if the same old scramble continues every July. Beyond pop-ups and reminders For Singhal, the answer is not another flood of ads, SMSes or 'file now' push notifications. He wants smarter systems that weave tax planning into daily life. 'We don't need more 'file now' reminders. We need infra that builds tax planning into everyday finance,' he wrote. Small nudges can help people stay ahead of deadlines. Singhal wants tools that remind people to collect paperwork early, fill out forms automatically and flag mistakes. He explained, 'We need tools that auto-remind, pre-fill, and validate. Nudges that turn filing from a chore into a habit. Products that treat tax compliance as a core loop, not a checkbox.' One comment under his post captured the mood. 'Imagine if AI could turn tax filing into something as easy as paying for groceries. Isn't that the future we want?' Tax season is once, money planning is daily Singhal's message is simple. Tax deadlines may come once a year. But managing money is daily work. 'Tax season comes once a year. Financial planning? That's every day,' he said. If India wants more people to file tax returns on time, the system must feel as normal as paying a phone bill. Routine, quick and not a source of stress. As more Indians move to the new regime, Singhal's question remains: Will this extra cash help people build better habits? Or will it just push the rush to next July, yet again?
