A simmering resentment is brewing among growers of apple in the country who are suffering losses due to heavy import from the fruit from Iran and the loss is to the tune of Rs 400-500 per box. The Iranian apple has entered every single market in Mumbai or Bengaluru and it is available for Rs 70-80 per kg across the states/UT. The growers feel that the government must step in to save the local produce as there is no need to import apples when the stores are packed of stock from Kashmir or Himachal. The result would see the death of local produce as the Kashmiri growers are suffering severely. If the storage option becomes unviable, the entire fruit will come to the market, leading to glut and slump in prices. The local produce is priced at Rs 150 per kilogram. The growers do hardly get Rs 1,500-1,600 per box against Rs 2,200-2,300 last year. The cheap Iranian apple has flooded the market and there is no demand for our produce. The situation is more worrisome for the orchardists as they are yet to sell their crop. There are around 1.5 crore boxes stored in cold stores and another 1 crore boxes at home but there is no demand. They are getting Rs 700-750 per box, a drop of around 40 per cent. The official figures from Union Department of Commerce recorded a total of 30,370 tons of Iranian apples imported into India from April and October last year, but Kashmiri growers say that does not capture the scale of the trade, which they say has increased dramatically in recent months -- a critical time for many growers in Kashmir. Most hold back a significant share of their annual production in cold storage to sell in the off season for higher rewards, and multiple growers said that warehouses remain unusually full this winter. A cascading effect on the entire apple industry, supply chain and allied manufacturers. Farmers recycle profits to improve, develop and increase their produce after each year. If there's any disruption or any other negative impact, this will surely affect the production of apples and ultimately end up devastating the entire industry. The UT horticulture department, which is the nodal agency to intervene, has been unable to resolve the issue of Iranian imports and its impact on growers as the loss to this sector would have devastating consequences on the sector.