Grape prices may soar this summer

BANGALORE: With the outbreak of downy mildew being confirmed in both the grape growing states of Maharashtra & Karnataka, domestic consumers should be prepared to shell out at least 20-25% extra for the popular variety of table grapes like Thomson Seedless when the crop hits the domestic market during March-April.

Downy mildew which occurs in various horticulture crops including grapes also impacts crucifers and other vine-type plants. It typically becomes visible due to rampant cold weather and in case of grapes in Maharashtra and Karnataka due to the presence of severe fog.

���We are expecting a 30-35% fall in production. There has been widespread damage to crop in areas near to Latur, Pandharpur, Sangli and Nagpur due to fog which has led to downy mildew,��� a senior office-bearer of Mahagrapes, an association of grape producers and exporters told ET.

Maharashtra���s grape output is pegged upwards of 12 lakh tonnes. And what adds salt to the injury is the fact that
such disease-hit grapes can���t be used for production of raisins (dried grapes).

In fact, there is a sense of deja vu what with grape growers having seen their crop wiped out in 2008 when unseasonal rains during February-March impacted crop production. And what appears as a double whammy is that farmers have to double their spend on chemicals and pesticides.

���Thanks to the shortage of raw materials, cost of chemicals and other inputs have doubled over the last 6-12 months. Farmers have had to spend close to about Rs 50,000 per acre this year compared to the normal Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000,��� sources said.

Farmers in Karnataka said, unusually heavy fog in December is bound to impact the availability of adequate stock for the domestic market. Karnataka has around 30,000 acres under grape cultivation with an average yield of about 10 tonnes per acre. The crop is a prominent horticulture produce which is grown in Bijapur, Bagalkot and Gadag. It is estimated that around 25% of Karnataka���s production is consumed locally with the product being sold in Karnataka (notably Bangalore), Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.