The post-monsoon rainfall has severely affected the grape crop in the flowering stage across Pune, Nashik, Sangli and Solapur districts.
The lack of sunlight and presence of mist have also affected vineyards in the region, which includes the leading grape- producing districts in the state. Essentially, hundreds of acres of grape plantations are in a bad shape.
“Many vineyards in these districts have been hit by disease. The pesticides used by grape farmers has gone waste due to continuous rain. Flower dropping too has been observed at several places. In the winter season, the cool atmosphere would crack the fruit. The total production of grapes will be low as compared to the harvest last year,” said RG Somkuwar, principal scientist (horticulture), National Research Centre for Grapes (NRCG).
To make matters worse, the state has not issued a government resolution (GR) regarding crop insurance due to the assembly elections. “As per procedure, the GR is issued in the first week of September but this year the government did not do so due to elections. Hence, thousands of farmers will face huge financial losses. It would be extremely difficult to continue grape farming in the state,” said Subhash Arve, former president of Maharashtra Rajya Draksha Bagaitdar Sangh (MRDBS).
The cost of harvesting the grape crop is approximately Rs1.5 lakh to Rs2 lakh, per acre. “It is an expensive crop. It requires constant spraying and cutting. Many farmers had invested money on spraying pesticides and cutting grapes but their plantations have been damaged totally by the post-monsoon showers,” added Arve.
Agriculture commissioner Suhas Divse said that the insurance cover issue rests with the state. “The government will take a decision about compensating the farmers. Our tehsil-level officials are taking stock of the situation,” Divse told TOI.
Rajendra Pawar, president of MRDBS, said that the government did not seem serious about the insurance package over the last three years. “Since there was no insurance for crops, it would be difficult for farmers to sustain the work. The new government is yet to be formed so the decision regarding compensation will not come early this year. It will have an adverse impact on the agriculture economy,” said Pawar.
Several grapes farmers have echoed similar sentiments in Narayangaon in Junnar tehsil of Pune district. “Junnar is known for producing sweet black grapes. But this year almost all grapes plantations spread over 2,500 hectares have been destroyed by the rain in September and October. With no insurance coverage, the growers are going to face huge losses,” said Jitendra Bidwai, president of Junnar Tehsil Grapes Growers Association.
Source - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
