Shimla, Feb. 4 -- Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh have announced plans for a mass movement against the proposed "zero import tariff" on apples from the United States, warning that the move could devastate the hill state's apple-based economy. Farmer leaders have sought the support of the Himachal Pradesh government, calling the India-US trade deal anti-farmer and harmful to horticulture-dependent regions.

Former MLA and senior farmers' leader Rakesh Singha, speaking to ANI, cautioned that duty-free imports of heavily subsidised American apples would severely impact local growers, particularly those who have invested crores of rupees in modern orchards.

"The impact of this policy will be very deep. American apple farming is backed by m...