The export of Indian grapes to Russia and Sri Lanka has halted midway in the season due to stronger pest control requirements from these countries. Sri Lanka’s share within the Indian grape export is relatively small, but Russia is a major export destination for table grapes. Last year, Russia imported 27,434.29 tons of the produce from India whereas Sri Lanka imported 2,331.25 tons.
While export to the more lucrative European and United Kingdom markets continues, overproduction has led to collapse of prices at the farm gate level. Vilas Shinde, chairman of the Nashik-based Sahyadri Farms, a Farmers Producers Company (FPC), said plant quarantine issues have been raised by both Russia and Sri Lanka. “Both the countries have asked for declaration of the entire area as pest-free,” he said.
Shinde said the necessary documentation is to be done by the agriculture department’s plant quarantine department. “Sri Lanka’s requirements have been met and we are waiting for them to revert, however, in the case of Russia, the work is yet to be done.”
