Cold may cut grape output in Maharashtra

PUNE: Unusually cold nights have hit grape production in the Nashik region of Maharashtra, when the demand is expected to pick up pace with the onset of summer.

The frost and the lowest temperature of 2.7 degree Celsius, recorded on February 9, have damaged grape orchards in Nashik district, the main grape-exporting hub of the country. Maharashtra accounts for 90% of grape exports from the country.

Of the 2.5 lakh hectare under grape cultivation in the state, over a lakh hectare is in Nashik district. The Nashik grapes have also obtained 'geographical identification' (GI) in 2010.

The exports have just begun with 48 containers being dispatched till Saturday. The grape growers were looking forward to better exports in 2012. They had suffered heavy losses in 2010, which was also the year of highest exports, as the EU had rejected Indian grapes saying pesticide residues were higher than the permissible levels.

"This year, we were expecting that the exports would touch 30,000 to 32,000 tonne as against 25,000 tonne last year. But now it seems that at least 25% of the production in Nashik will be hit," said Jagganath Khapre, president of the All India Grape Exporters' Association.