Covid-19 hits Maharashtra’s grape exports

Maharashtra’s grape growers are in a limited location with the export of about 35,000 tonnes stuck due to the coronavirus spread.

This month, as of Friday, March 20, Maharashtra has exported about 74,000 tonnes of grapes to a variety of nations around the world, in comparison to 89,000 tonnes in March 2019. The optimum amount of grape consignments have long gone to the Netherlands (48,000 tonnes) followed by the Uk (nine,800 tonnes) and Germany (8,835 tonnes). In 2018-19 the Netherlands, Russia, the Uk, Bangladesh and Germany ended up main grape export places.

“Almost 30 for each cent of the grapes are however in the fields. This would quantity to about twenty five,000-30,000 tonnes of export-high-quality grapes. We are intently observing developments and hope that the coronavirus spread will not have an impact on grape exports,” claimed Vilas Shinde, Chairman and Controlling Director of the Nashik-based Sahyadri Farms. Sahyadri is a single of the leading exporters of grapes. Lockdowns and depleting desire for grapes overseas is also a trigger for concern for farmers. The desire in supermarkets in the Uk and Germany has long gone down substantially, according to exporters.

Including to their concerns, hailstorms and major downpours in areas of Marathwada, western and north Maharashtra, in which grape cultivation is concentrated, have now weakened grapes.

No. one producer

Maharashtra ranks first in India in phrases of generation, accounting for far more than 81 for each cent of whole output. Other main grape-growing States consist of Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Per info on the APEDA web site, Karnataka has exported 91.260 mt.

In India, grapes are cultivated on one,23,000 hectares, occupying two.01 for each cent of the whole spot in the state. India is also a main exporter of new grapes. The state has exported two,forty six,133.79 tonnes of grapes valued at ₹2,335.24 crore in 2018-19, for each the APEDA info.