NASHIK: The export of grapes from Nashik has begun and the district has exported around 390 metric tonne of grapes until January 2. The exported grapes are from Satana belt that harvests early grapes from November. Usually, grape harvest season begins in Nashik from the first week of January. Of the total 1.75 lakh acre, early grape harvest is carried out only on 6,000 acre of the Satana belt in the district. According to sources from agriculture department, “The district has exported 390 metric tonne of grapes till date. Of which, 374 metric tonne are exported to Netherlands, while remaining 16 metric tonne are exported to Italy.”
Since 2004, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has made registration of vineyards compulsory for grape farmers wanting to export their grapes to promote export quality grape production. Accordingly, the office of superintending agriculture officer carries out the registration process for farmers willing to export grapes. This year the areas under grape plantation for grape export have increased by 30.69% during the current season. Around 34,023 grape farmers have registered a total area of 56,200 acre for export of grapes for 2016-17. Last year (2015-16), around 26,000 grape farmers had registered a total area of 43,000 acre of vineyards in the district,” the sources said.
