A month ago, vineyard owners had predicted a bumper crop. However, the picture has changed since last week, as nearly the total grape acreage (about 350,000 acres) in Maharashtra is facing danger from pests.
The areas affected by the recent continuing unseasonal rainfall are Nashik, Sangli, Pune Solapur, Osmanabad, Beed, Latur, Aurangabad and Jalna, according to Subhash Arve, president of Maharashtra Rajya Draksha Bagiatdar Sangh, Pune.
The vineyard owners have a two-pronged battle: the first is against vagaries of nature, which includes unseasonal rainfall as well as shortage of water and pests, while the other battle is getting crop insurance. “The GR for the crop insurance scheme is generally published by October 10. However, this year it is late. Under the crop insurance scheme, the Central and state governments collectively pay 50 per cent while the farmer has to bear 50 per cent. For us the risk has begun,” Mr Arve said.
About two lakh acres of vineyards are located in Nashik district, about one lakh acres in Sangli, Pune and Solapur and the remaining yards in other places of Maharashtra.
However, Jagannath Khapare, president of Grape Exporters Association of India (GEAI), had a positive outlook. He said that despite these circumstances, they would try to salvage the grapes if the government steps in immediately with the crop insurance scheme. “We have received heavy rainfall throughout Maharashtra and the entire area where grapes grow has been affected,” he said.
Mr Khapare also said that they were in the risk period and the insurance premiums should be paid at the earliest to avoid problems later. Meanwhile, grapes have begun arriving in the markets and are being sent to Delhi, Kolkata and other places. The grapes are being harvested in Satana and Malegaon, the northern parts of Nashik district.
