Nashik grape exports increase 25 per cent

Nashik district, which is known as the 'Grape Capital of India', has recorded 25.12 per cent rise in exports of grapes in the financial year 2005-06 over last year, earning foreign currencies amounting to Rs 172 crore. In the last five years, Nashik's grape exports have increased almost five-fold from 3775.37 tonne in 2001-02 to 16,700 tonne in 2005-06.

Nashik district is known for producing a large quantity of grapes as it shares 55 per cent of total grape exports from the country and 75 per cent of total exports from the state.

Speaking to Business Standard, Dhananjay Wardekar, agriculture officer, said, "In 2004-05, 13,359 tonne of grapes was exported to 11 countries. Till date this year (May 25), 16,700 tonne has been exported to 13 countries "� the UK, Holland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Russia, Belgium, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Norway, the Netherlands and Taiwan. Total exports of grapes are valued at Rs 172 crore."

Nashik district has been registering continuous growth in exports of grapes, every year. In the last five years, its exports have increased five-fold from 3775.37 tonne (2001-02) to 16,700 tonne (2005-06), he added.

"There are about 100 grape-exporting firms in Nashik. In 2005-06, around 14,632 grape growers obtained registration certificates by the Office of the District Agriculture Superintendent, for exporting their grapes.

Phyto Sanitary certificates, which are compulsory for grape exporters as per guidelines of APEDA, were given to 1,320 exporters," Wardekar said. Local firms such as Freshtop Fruits, ND and Euro Fruits exported maximum quantity of grapes in the just concluding financial year (2005-06).

Freshtop Fruits exported 1,188 tonne to Belgium, the UK and the Netherlands, while ND exported 888 tonne to the UK, Germany and Russia. Euro Fruits exported 396 tonne of grapes to Holland. In 2005-06, with the productivity level at 20 tonne a hectare, around 6 lakh tonne of grapes was produced in the district.

In the year, total area under grape cultivation in the district was 30,000 hectares, while total investment in district vineyards was estimated at Rs 1,400 crore.