Grape exports down by 50% as domestic market improves

Grape export from the state has so far registered a drop of about 50 per cent as a result of increasing number of farmers preferring to sell their produce in domestic market at higher rates. Usually, Maharashtra accounts for 95 per cent of country's grape exports.

Pandurang Watharkar, director, processing and planning, department of agriculture, said, "Last year, a number of consignments from Maharashtra were rejected at various ports of the European Union (EU) countries. Though importers bought some grapes for the EU markets, it did not fetch significant profit. The farmers, this year, are selling their produce immediately at higher rates in local markets."

In local markets, grapes are sold around Rs 50 per kg. The prices of grapes supplied by Maharashtra are higher in Kolkata and other markets in north India.

The state has so far exported 754 containers to EU countries, as against the previous year's figure of 1,500 containers during the same period. Total 3,500 grape farms are registered with grapenet, a network promoted by the state government to facilitate grape exporters.

Last year proved to be a nightmare for the farmers who had made huge investments but incurred losses after their produce was not accepted in several EU countries due to high residue of a growth hormone, despite the fact that the hormone was not banned by EU countries.

Unlike previous year, this year the rates for domestic grapes are higher, said a grape exporter from Pune.

"In the last few years, I have been exporting grapes to EU countries, as well as selling them locally, mainly in Kolkata and Delhi markets. As links have been established in these markets in recent years, the demand is increasing, offering higher returns to farmers. If the domestic prices continue to be on higher side, I would prefer to sell grapes in domestic market than exporting, as it would save my expenses on documentation and testing of various chemicals," informed Watharkar.