Many grape grower-shippers in India’s Nashik, Maharashtra, region are halting export programmes early after hailstorms destroyed up to 50 per cent of their crops this week.
Hail, rain and thunder storms over the last few days (16-17 March) wiped out swathes of fruit, vegetable and cereal crops in the area, with grapes the worst affected, according to grower and media reports.
Many grape growers there are now wrapping up the season, since many have little or no fruit left to export, sources said.
“Nearly 50 per cent of grapes is as good as lost, or gone to the domestic market,” Nagesh Shetty, managing director of grower-shipper Deccan Edibles told Fruitnet. “Most exports are in closing mode.”
Half of Maharashtra’s grape crop, 40 per cent of the state’s onions, and 35 per cent respectively of its mango and pomegranate crops have been damaged by bouts of unseasonable weather since October, reports claim.
The damage to the horticulture sector so far has been unofficially estimated at INR1bn (US$0.015bn), according to media reports, and more bad weather is forecast.
Sources at the state agriculture department reportedly described the latest damage as “substantial”, and estimate that domestic fruit and vegetable prices will soar as a result. They said consumers may be “forced” to buy costlier imported alternatives.
