Iranian apple gives tough competition to local varieties

The apple fruit is one of the most popular fruits worldwide. It's great tasting, crunchy, comes in a variety of colors and flavors.

Iranian apple is also being imported while huge quantities are also being smuggled to Pakistan. He said as Iran is facing US sanctions, it is dumping its products in Pakistan.

Surprisingly, he quoted the rate of Rs50-60 per kg for Iranian apple at wholesale market Super Highway in Karachi while retailers are fleecing consumers by charging Rs100-160 per kg.

There is no check by local authorities to ascertain price difference between wholesale and retail markets.

He claimed that Iranian apple has also landed in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhawa.

The wholesale rate of locally produced golden apple is Rs60-70 per kg while Kullu variety is available at Rs40-45 per kg.

Iran has previously had a limited export market for its apple industry, which is valued at approximately US$9.23bn, due to trade restrictions.

Alongside growers and importers of US produce, domestic apple farmers are also reportedly struggling with the added competition. Virbhadra Singh, chief minister of India's biggest apple producing state, Himachal Pradesh, has requested that restrictions be imposed on apple import trade to help local producers.

Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has put forward a similar request.

Of the total number of apples sold in India, 80 per cent are produced locally.