Grape production in the district has increased by almost 40% to 14 lakh tonnes so far during the current grape season 2015-16 (Dec-April) as compared to the last year because of better weather conditions.
Last year, the district had recorded grape production of 1 million tonnes during the grape season.
Around 90% of the vineyards have been harvested so far, while the rest are expected to be harvested by April-end. According to the grape-growers body, the production is expected to touch 1.55 million tonnes by the time the season concludes.
The total areas under grape plantation in the district has increased from 1.50 lakh acres last year to 1.75 lakh acres this grape season. In Maharashtra, the total area under grape plantations is around 3 lakh acres, of which, 98% of the plantation are of table grapes, while the remaining 2% is of wine grape varieties. (1 lakh=100,000)
Chairman of the Science Committee of the Maharashtra Rajya Draksha Bagayatdar Sangh (MRDBS) Kailas Bhosle said, "The harvest season is about the end. Around 90% of the vineyards in the district have been harvested, while the remaining 10% (20,000 acres) are to be harvested by April 25. Last year (2014-15), the grape production had been affected by around 30% due to unseasonal rain and hail," adding that optimum weather conditions led to the production touching 14 lakh tonnes, and is likely to touch 15.50 lakh metric tonnes by April-end.
Bhosle further said, "While the grape growers had better production, they received very low rates at the start of the season. Initially, they sold grapes in the range of Rs 20-25 per kg, against Rs 50 per kg last year. Around 50% of the total vineyards were sold in this range. The farmers started getting rates up to Rs 40, but only in the last phases of the season. Around 20% of the produce was sold at Rs 40 per kg."
