Shimla/New Delhi – In the wake of Operation Sindoor launched against Pakistan-backed terrorists in Kashmir, India’s apple farmers have fired a sharp salvo—not at militants, but at the government’s trade ties with Turkey.
Furious over reports that Turkey has supplied arms and military tech to Pakistan, orchardists from Himachal and Kashmir have demanded an immediate ban on the import of apples, apple plants, and all goods from Turkey, calling the country a “terror sponsor in disguise.”
“While our soldiers are bleeding on the borders, Turkey is busy fueling Pakistan’s terror machine. And we? We’re still importing apples from them? This is not just business—it’s betrayal,” said one angry farmer leader from Shimla, expressing solidarity with the Indian Armed Forces.
The growers reminded the Centre that Turkey’s current regime, under President Erdoğan, has increasingly leaned towards backing Pakistan in global forums and now with direct military assistance. “Arab nations have turned their backs on Pakistan’s jihad factory. But Turkey has chosen to be the arms depot of a rogue state. Enough is enough,” they said.
The Bitter Trade Truth
According to 2023 trade data, India imported a whopping $92.8 million worth of apples and pears from Turkey, topping the list of apple-exporting nations to India. About 635 Turkey exporters exported 7484 shipments to India from October 23 to September 2024, sources revealed.
In contrast, India’s own apple exports stood at just $10.3 million, mostly to Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan. Total apple imports into India stood at $376 million, also including major shipments from Iran ($62.1M) and South Africa ($44.5M).
In March—even before the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor—there were signs that New Delhi was considering a cut in apple imports from Turkey and New Zealand, while boosting imports from the US to balance the trade gap.
But now, the farmers argue, the issue is no longer just economic.
“It’s national security. How can we let Turkish apples enter our mandis when the same regime is giving missiles to those attacking our jawans?”
The farmers have urged the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of External Affairs to act decisively and blacklist Turkey from agricultural trade.
They also want a thorough audit of apple plant and sapling imports, which they say may be Trojan horses damaging native varieties and making the country dependent on foreign sources.
“This is the time to stand with the soldiers—not the import lobbies. Let Turkey keep its apples. We don’t want the blood of our soldiers tainted with imported fruit,” said Deepak Banchta of one farmers.
With Operation Sindoor making headlines for its tough stance against terror camps across the border, apple growers say it’s time for “economic Sindoor” too—marking a red line against any country backing enemies of India.
#BanTurkishApples #ApplesNotAmmo #FarmersForForces #NoTradeWithTerror
