Nashik Grape Exports Dip 58%.

Nashik district, the grape capital of India, has recorded a fall of 58 per cent in export of grapes in FY 2010-11 (December-April season) as compared to that of last year due to unseasonal rains that had hit the vineyards during November 2010, causing production losses from 30 to 70 per cent in vineyards in Nashik district, earning foreign currency amounting to Rs 100 crores.

Nashik district is known for producing large quantity of grapes as it shares 55 per cent of total export of grapes from the country and 75 per cent of total export of grapes from the state.

“Grape export from Nashik has been badly affected due lower production caused due to unseasonal rains during last November. Till date this year (April 19, 2011), 15,000 metric tonnes of grapes have been exported to Thailand, Malyasia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonasia, Taiwan, Dubai, Sri Lanka and Maldiv,” Dhananjay Wardekar, Agriculture Officer, Office of the Joint Director, Nashik division, told Business Standard.

The number of grapes exporting firms this season was around 106. Around 12,888 vineyards, each admeasuring from 0.40 hectare to 1.20 hectare, were registered in 2010-11 season by the Office of the District Agriculture Superintendent, for export of grapes. Around 1,204 Phyto Sanitary certificates, which are compulsory for grape exporters as per guidelines of APEDA, had been given to these exporters.

In 2010-11, the total area under grape cultivation in Nashik district was 50,000 hectares. Around 4 lakh mt of grapes were produced in the district. Out of 50,000 hectares, around 37,617 hectares in the district had reportedly suffered the production losses of more than 50 per cent, while rest of 12,383 hectares of vineyards suffered losses of around 30 per cent.

Source : sify.com