Exports from India to Russia have begun in a small way this season and export to Europe may commence from January-end. GrapeNet is an internet-based electronic service offered by Apeda to stakeholders for facilitating testing and certification of grapes export from India. Last year, the number of growers had exceeded 38,000, top officials of All India Grape Exporters Association stated.
According to the association’s president Jagannath Khapre, the grape crop has suffered an immense damage to the tune of 40% because of the extended monsoons. Grape growers are under the impression that the usage of pesticides because of the rains would increase the residue limits in the crop and therefore, many growers have preferred to stay away, he explained. Several grape importing countries have become strict on residue limits and have stopped exports in the past.
Although India’s traditional markets in Europe and UK might not suffer much since the season there begins late, the markets in UAE, Dubai, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Far East might get affected to some extent, he said. Normally grapes are harvested by October-end for these markets but could do so this season because of the rains.
Khapre expects export to Europe to remain on par with the previous season and had said the association has demanded daily updates on the exports from other countries as well.
Exports to Russia have begun in a small way this season and export to Europe may commence from January-end. The crop arrivals are likely to increase from the second week of January. Agreements with Japan, Australia and New Zealand are yet to be signed although these countries had shown some interest in exports from India.
