Shimla, March 31 -- Congress MLA and spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Rathore said that the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States, being projected as a diplomatic success, could prove "devastating" for domestic apple growers who operate on small landholdings of one to two acres, compared to large-scale orchards of nearly 100 acres in the US.

Calling it a case of "structural inequality," Rathore underlined stark differences in productivity and state support. He noted that while American apple growers benefit from extensive subsidies and financial backing through federal programs, Indian farmers continue to struggle with limited institutional support.

He moved a resolution in the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly recomme...