Nashik, the grape capital of India, has recorded a fall of 0.42 per cent in the export of grapes in FY09, due to global recession. But, exports have earned the foreign currencies amounting to Rs 175 crore.
Nashik has a share of 55 per cent of total export of grapes from the country and 75 per cent of the total exports of grapes from the state. Speaking to Business Standard, Dhananjay Wardekar, agriculture officer said, “Grape exports from Nashik have been slightly affected due to global recession and therefore we could not achieve 8.5 per cent growth target set for 2008-09.
Till date this year, 27,533 tonnes of grapes have been exported to 15 countries, including UK, Holland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Russia, Belgium, Dubai, Singapore, Hongkong, Norway, Netherland and Taiwan. The total exports of grapes amounts to Rs 175 crore.”
“This season, around 25 grape exporting firms, including Fieldfresh Foods Pvt Ltd, have opted out from grape exports.
The number of grape exporting firms this season reduced to 106, against 131 in the previous season (FY08). Around 14,720 vineyards, each measuring from 0.40 hectares to 1.20 hectares, were registered in 2008-09 by the Office of the District Agriculture Superintendent, for export of grapes.
“Around 2,152 phyto-sanitary certificates, which are compulsory for grape exporters according to guidelines of Apeda, were given to these exporters,” Wardekar added.
In 2008-09, the total area under grape cultivation in Nashik district was 40,000 hectares. More than 720,000 tonnes of grapes were produced in the district and grapes productivity was 20 tonnes a hectare.