Nashik eyeing 32% rise in exports of grape

Nashik, the grape capital of the country, has geared up for the new grape season. The office of superintending agriculture officer has projected a 31.57 per cent rise in export of grapes in the current (December-March) season at 25,000 tonnes. Revenues of around Rs 125 crore will be generated if the export target, set for the current season, is achieved.

Nashik contributes 55 per cent to the country's and 75 per cent of Maharashtra's grape exports.

With an aim to promote export quality grape production, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has made registration of vineyards compulsory for grape-growers wanting to export for the last three years.

"We have set the target of exporting 25,000 tonnes of grapes in the current season. The office of superintending agriculture officer has started registration of vineyards for export from September 1, 2007, for the current season. Around 396 vineyards, each measuring 0.40 to 1.20 hectares, have been registered so far. Last grape season, around 6,700 grape-growers had registered 11,836 vineyards (around 7,500 hectares). This season, the total area of vineyards that will be registered is expected to touch 8,500 to 9,000 hectares," a senior agriculture officer told Business Standard.

"In 2007-08, the total area under grape cultivation in Nashik increased by 3,000 hectares to 38,000 hectares. The area under wine grape varieties has also doubled. The wine varieties have been cultivated on around 1,200 hectares," he added.

In 2006-07, around 19,000 tonnes of grapes were exported from Nashik to 13 countries - the UK, Holland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Russia, Belgium, Dubai, Singapore, Hong kong, Norway, Netherlands and Taiwan. In the last five to six years, Nashik's grape exports have increased five-fold from 3,775 tonnes in 2001-02 to 19,000 tonnes in 2006-07.