Grape Production set to fall 70% if rains play truant

PUNE: India's grape production in the 2012-13 season is feared to fall by 70% if there is not enough rainfall during the next few months in Maharashtra and Karnataka, the main grape-growing states in the country.

India has about 2.5 lakh ha area under grape cultivation. Maharashtra accounts for 65% of grape production while Karnataka outputs 25%. A majority of vineyards are in drought-prone areas. All-India grape production has declined from 18 lakh tonne in 2009 to 12.5 lakh tonne last year.

An association of grape growers from Maharashtra, which met in Pune on Saturday, was worried about water shortage due to deficient rainfall.

"Only one dam in Nashik district, the bowl of grape production, has water," said Mahendra Shahir, president, Draksha Bagayatdar Sangh.

India is one of the main grape exporters. After being hit by the pesticide residue controversy two years ago, grape exports improved only last year.

Growers who used to export grapes have stopped shipments after the controversy, leaving the field open for the organised sector and traders.

Drought conditions in the region have worried exporters too. "There was no rainfall after the pruning, which was very much essential," said Sopan Kanchan, president, All India Grape Growers' Association.

During May and June, a few grape growers saved their orchards by watering them with the help of tankers. But the situation worsened later with rainfall remaining below normal.

Anil Meher, vice president, All India Grape Growers' Association, said, "There is a limit on how much a farmer can water the orchards through tankers. Now the situation has come to a stage where even water tanker service providers are not finding water. If rainfall improves in the remaining period of the season, grape production may increase to 60% to 70%."