The Hindu Business Line : Pink Berry disease may affect grapes export

Agri-Biz & Commodities - Horticulture/Fruits & Vegetables
Industry & Economy - Exports & Imports
States - Maharashtra
Pink Berry disease may affect grapes export

Alka Kshirsagar

Shipments likely to be 30% lower this year

Demand base
Shortfall likely to be from sales to UK.
Exports projected to be less than demand expectations.
Mahagrapes also targets China market

Pune March 9 Pink Berry, a disease that affects the fruit, coupled with an "early season", is likely to impact grape exports, particularly from Maharashtra, and could result in 30 per cent lower shipments this year.

Dutch target

Mr Sopanrao Kanchan, President, Mahagrapes, the export body for grapes, said while the target for Holland at 1,000-1,200 containers would be met, the shortfall would essentially come from sales to the United Kingdom. Though in number-terms export this year at 2,000 containers will cross last year's figure of 1,800 containers, the potential based on demand projections was much higher.

Major problem

According to Mr Kanchan, the early pruning of the vines last year led to earlier than normal fruiting. Since the UK demand peaks in April, when most of the crop will have been harvested, a maximum of 800 containers will find their way to this market.

One of the major problems affecting grape production this year is the Pink Berry disease.

The advised method to contain this affliction — covering the fruit with newspapers — has brought its own share of problems in higher incidence of the pest millibug.

In addition, vines have been weakened, and the yield per acre on account of lower weights of bunches has dropped to an average of 2.5 tonnes.

In the meantime, Mahagrapes is intensifying efforts to develop new markets, and China is one of the markets on its screen since the Chinese New Year, when demand is high, falls in grape season (early February to April).

The preferred colour in this region is pink, and the varieties that meet this requirement are Red Globe, Flame Seedless and the seedless Gulabi.

Experimenting

Several farmers are experimenting with increasing production of these varieties on a private level, Mr Kanchan says.

Maharashtra exports a mere 2 per cent of its grape production. The State, however, accounts for 90 per cent of total grape exports.

The expected revenue for this year is Rs 100 crore.

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