Rain could harm grapes in Nashik

The season of grapes is back in India as the crop is ready for harvesting and may be in the market in the next few days. But if fungus-ridden grapes find their way to you, blame it on the weather that is being witnessed in Nashik, India's largest grapes producing state Maharashtra. The district in Maharashtra is experiencing cloudy weather with chances of unseasonal rain and above normal night temperatures that could harm the ready to harvest grape crop. Nashik recorded a minimum of 13 degrees on Wednesday, three notches above the normal.

Nashik recorded 0.8 mm of rain and forecast suggests that there could be more rain in the district due to an off shore trough along the West Coast. The trough (region of intensified moist winds) is extending from Gujarat to Lakshadweep and bringing in cloudy and rainy weather in Maharashtra's coastal areas.

According to an estimate, the total area under grape cultivation in Nashik is around 1.25 lakh acres. Around 10 lakh metric tonnes of grapes are expected to be produced in the district as the productivity is 20 metric tonnes per hectare.

The Maharashtra agriculture department is expecting exports of 50,000 metric tonnes of grapes in this season.

Maharashtra is India's largest grape growing state and contributes 90% of the country's total grape export. Around 70% of the state's grape export comes from Nashik. The district is registering significant growth in exports of grapes every year.