A lack of rainfall in India’s main grape growing state of Maharahstra has heavily impacted production in the region.
Local newspaper the Hindu has reported 10-15 per cent of growers there are unlikely to harvest any fruit this season while many more could suffer the same fate if monsoonal rains do not arrive in the next two weeks.
A local expert told the newspaper the Sangali-Solapur-Osmanabad belt is the worst affected. “There was no pruning done in areas such as Latur, Jat, and parts of Osamabad due to water shortages. These people are in trouble,” he said.
In previous years monsoon rains have been delayed, but there are concerns they will not come at all this year, the newspaper reported.
Maharashtra produces over 90 per cent of India’s grape crop.
