More Indian grape growers registered to export to Europe in 2010 than in 2009, when the EU banned certain Indian shipments due to illegal chemical residues, reports The Times of India (TOI).
The number of grape farms applying for certification to ship to Europe in 2010 rose to 15,686, up from 14,790 in 2009. Nashik district accounted for the highest number of registrations, the report said.
Indian phytosanitary inspection officials had expected registration numbers to fall in 2010 following the losses incurred by the grape export industry in 2009, when exports from Maharashtra were rejected by the EU following the discovery of growth hormones in the fruit.
"The opposite happened," inspection official Govind Hande told the TOI.
Mr Hande attributed the 2010 rise in phytosanitary certification applications to changes in EU requirements and better communication of vital export information via official Indian channels.
"The EU countries have updated their list of recommended and banned chemicals in the growing of grapes," he said. "The state horticulture department conducted awareness programmes in the grape-growing districts and circulated this information among farmers, along with a rough timetable of when they need to be ready. Also, the state has assured grape growers of support."
Phytosanitary certification is mandatory for Indian grape export to EU countries.
