Unseasonal rains damage grape crop worth Rs 40 cr

NASHIK: Maharashtra State Grape Growers��� Association on Tuesday toured rain-affected villages in the district along with agricultural experts and guided hundreds of grape-growers, whose crops in 5,000 hectares areas were damaged due to unseasonal rains coupled with hailstorms on Sunday evening.

The crop loss due to the rain has been estimated at Rs 40 crore.

Later talking to presspersons, chairperson of Nashik division of the association, Vijay Gadakh said that many grape-farms were damaged following the sudden heavy rains lashed in Nashik, Dindori, Sinnar and Niphad tehsils of the district.

Farmers were asked to take proper care of their farms by the agricultural experts, who toured along with the association���s office-bearers on Tuesday, Mr Gadakh added. Farmers have been asked to take their withered grapes to Sangli���s kismish-preparing factory to convert grapes into raisins at reasonable prices so that farmers could earn and reduce their losses.

Collector P Velrasu has already told his departments concerned to undertake panchanamas of the damaged farms and he has sent his report to the state government, official sources said.

The association has assured all the affected grape growers that it will provide all required guidance and approach government to get them compensation for the losses, Mr Gadakh added.