Kappec to set up cold storage for grapes in Bijapur

Better days are ahead for grape exporters in the state. The Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing and Export Corporation Ltd (Kappec) will set up a state-of-the-art cold storage-cum-packing complex in Bijapur, the biggest grape growing centre in the state.

The cold storage with a 65-tonne capacity will be set up with an investment of Rs 3 crore through a JV with Bijapur Grape Growers Association. The first such facility in the state will be built as per European Union standards. It will have a separate pre-cooling chamber, packaging unit for fresh grapes and cold storage.

While a 40 tonnes capacity is being reserved for fresh grapes, the balance of 25 tonnes will be used for storing pomegranate, Kappec managing director B A Channappa Gowda said.

The establishment of the cold storage will give a big fillip to the export of fresh grapes from the state.

The grape exporters from the state have been deprived of a better price for their produce due to a lack of a cold storage of international standard, said Gowda.

"This will be the first of many such infrastructure facilities being established in the state to promote export of fresh fruit," he added.

Of the Rs 3 crore required for setting up the facility, Kappec will extend Rs 1 crore, while Rs 1.60 crore is being funded by the Centre through the ASIDE scheme. The balance Rs 40 lakh is being pooled by the Bijapur District Grape Growers Association. The cold storage will be ready by March 2006.

Kappec has been exporting fresh grapes since 1998-1999. There was a break in between for a couple of years due to the poor quality of grapes and lack of proper facilities. Last year it exported 20 containers of fresh grapes (1 container is equal to 14,000 kg) and intends to export at least 50 containers during the forthcoming season (January to April) to European countries from Bijapur.

"Once the harvest begins by January-end in Bijapur district we will procure the fresh grapes, mainly the 'Thomson' and 'Thash-a-Ganesh' seedless varieties directly from the farmers and export them after packing as per the international standards," he said. Last year, the growers realised up to Rs 52 per kg in the European supermarkets.

During the next season, the Kappec also plans to export fresh grapes to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Kappec in association with Bijapur Grape Growers Association has identified prospective farmers for growing export quality grapes and is presently conducting training workshops for them.

As many as 35 farmers have come forward to grow grapes for the export market, says K H Mumbai Reddy, secretary of the association.

He said that a fall in the prices of raisins (dry grapes) is one of the main reasons for the farmers to come forward to supply their produce for the export market. Presently, raisin prices are ruling around Rs 40-55 per kg from the high of Rs 60-75 per kg. Raisin prices have fallen mainly due to excess production in the country. As against the domestic requirement of 55-60,000 tonnes, production has gone up to 70,000 tonnes this season.

Grapes are grown on 22,000 acres in the state, of which 16,000-17,000 acres are mainly in northern part of the state like Bijapur, Bagalkot and Belgaum. The state produces around 2 lakh tonnes of grape, nearly 60 per cent of which is converted into raisin.