Mumbai: Grape cultivators in Maharashtra are hoping to fetch better revenue in the near future as the state has decided to introduce new varieties of the fruit that would match the global quality in terms of taste, colour and length of grape-bids.
This was decided at a meeting of the state government and the Maharashtra Grape Growers’ Association on Wednesday. The government has decided to import new varieties of grapes and cultivate them in the state.
According to state agriculture minister, Pandurang Fundkar, Maharashtra’s grape export is around two lakh tonnes, annually. Grapes are exported to Netherlands, Germany and other European Union countries from India. Raisins' export is also around 50,000 tonne and demand for both the commodities is growing.
He further stated that to match the rising demand and tap new markets, new varieties of grapes were needed. The state’s decision is certainly going to help grape growers in the state.
Grape growers’ association has also stated that the decision regarding the import of new varieties of the citrus fruit was taken after eight years and a special variety, likely to be grown in the state, will have grape bid (single grape), which will be 2 mm longer in size.
It was decided in the meeting that the new varieties of grape would be imported and cultivated in the state. These varieties will then be tested for a year with criteria such as annual production, growth of the plant and vulnerability to climate and pest, Fundkar said.
