The Hindu Business Line : <I>Grapes turn `sour' for exporters </I>

Already hit hard by unseasonal rains and hailstorm, grape growers, especially in Andhra Pradesh, are now facing a new problem. The end February and early March rains, preceded by humid weather, have made a dent in the quality of grapes in a few orchards due to the surfacing of Aspergilus rot and Slip Skin.

A team of horticulture scientists from the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR), Bangalore, last week inspected the orchards in the affected districts.

Mr R.P. Rawal, Principal Scientist of IIHR, has suggested to the farmers to discard the damaged ones in the field and improve sanitation. Further, they should not resort to any spray and separate the berries that have been affected.

Quick intervention is necessary to halt further impact, since grapes need to be harvested before April 15 for exports. The farmers, hoping on bigger exports this year, were now facing multi-fold problems, said Mr Kanaka Reddy, President of the Andhra Pradesh Grape Growers' Association.

Grape growers, agri-business companies into export, cold chains and others involved, had decided in October to reduce crop, increase quantum and improve the quality for the export market. In fact, "we were targeting about 3,000 tonnes of export this year," Mr Reddy told Business Line.

50 pc crop hit

However, the hailstorm and rains have affected over 50 per cent of the crop. Another problem that exporters could face is the impact on appearance and quality during transport and preservation at low temperatures, since the berries have shrunk due to rains. March-May is the peak time for export, hence there was very little time left, another leading grape exporter said.

. Andhra Pradesh exported about 1,400 tonnes in 100 containers pre-dominantly to the UK and some to Dubai and Europe.

Grape growerswere also not getting a good price, as the grapes are commanding about Rs 12-15 a kg/gate price, against Rs 18-20 a kg, Mr Reddy said.

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