Grapes

Maharashtra is a leading state in production of Grapes in whole country. In regardsto agriculture land
under grapes cultivation & grapes production, Nasik & Sanglidistricts are at forefront in the state. Apart
from these, grapes are also grown in thedistricts of Ahmednagar, Pune , Satara , Solapur and
Osmanabad. Now a day’s

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grapes are produced in Latur district of Marathwada. However, Nasik and Sanglidistricts are ahead in the
production of grapes in a scientific manner.

Figure

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Area under grapes in Maharashtra is 35236 hectare (ha), out of which Nasik andSangli districts
contribute 24174 ha and 8255 ha respectively. Maharashtra produces around 988722 MT of grapes
annually, in which Nasik and Sanglidistricts contribution is 500406 MT and 231635 MT. Total exports of
Grapes fromfrom India is 26793.83 MT valuing 105.89 crores out of which nearly 80 % isexported from
Maharashtra. The Varieties grown in Maharashtra are Thompsonseedless, Tas-e-Ganesh, Sharad
seedless, Flame seedless and Sonaka.

1.3 MARKET SCENARIO

Nasik district is the largest producer and export of Grapes in Maharashtra. Themain growing are
Dindori , Nasik ,Niphad, Pimpalgaon –Basvant and Chandwad.Export of grapes from nasik stands at
7613.63 MT during 2003-04. Usually verylittle quantity of export quality grapes comes to APMCs. Export
grapes are usuallyProcured at the fare gate. Traders and exports go directly to farms 20-25 days before
harvest and they fix a procurement price based on the grade.

1.4PERIOD OF PRICE FLUCTUATION

Generally the price of grape depends on the production, harvesting period anddemands in market of
other part of India.Low price: Nov to Dec with the average price around Rs.7 to 9/kgPeak price: April-
May with average price around Rs.12 to 15/kgIn this market some variety always fetch good price. A
general price for varietiescan be given below:
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Three major quality parameters for export of the berries atpost harvesting are-

1.Size of the grapes2.Bricks in the produce3.Contamination due to pests.

Thompson seedless contributed nearly 90%of the total exported the EuropeanUnion and UK while
Shared Seedless was the major variety that was exportedto Middle East.

Ll. Quality of Thompson variety of seed with respect to the period of theprocurement is shown in the
graphs below.

Quality of grapes at the time of reception.( ThompsonSeedless )

WeekPrice paidto farmerAverageweight of one bunchAverageSizeAverageBrixDiseasedgrapes ( qtin Kg )

438.54290.4516.517.98Less than 1 %539.28270.4516.5818.1Less than 1 %639.12286.4615.4318.4Less

than 1 %738.7925715.3817.93Less than 1 %841.40294.7415.6718.14Less than 1
%939.20298.915.918Less than 1 %1039.67311.515.618.2Less than 1 %1138.4731815.318Less than 1
%1241.83325.115.817.8Less than 1 %1342.34323.41718Less than 1 %1441.90288.61717.6Less than 1 %

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Total40.05296.7816.0118.01Less than 1%

3.1WEIGHT OF GRAPES

From the table it can be established that Thompson varieties of grapes aregenerally available after the
January end of from the period of the February. In thestart of the season the average bunch weight is
less as the grapes do not get muchsize and are harvested. Each berry of his variety weight around 4-6
gms and each bunch has nearly 70-80 berries.

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3.2 AVERAGE SIZE OF THE GRAPES

From the table 2.2 it can be established that the size of the produce is less in thestart of the season as
compared to the mid and the end of the season. From the below graph it is easily seen that the size of
the fruit is height at end of the seasonwhich implies a better quality according to UK and EU Standards
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3.3 AVERAGE BRIX OF THE GRAPES

From the table 2.3 it can be clearly seen that there is not much variation in the brixof the fruit during the
whole season. Brix of the fruit also depend on the irrigation

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of the field .if there is rain or the just irrigated then the average brix in the grapeswill increase and make
it unsuitable for the grape export. More brix means moresugar content in the grapes which increase its
chance contamination duringtransportation of grapes.

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CHAIN OF EVENTS IN GRAPES EXPORT

The Varity of grapes that is exported from the Nasik region mostly this timeis Sharad Seedless and
Thompson Seedless .Out of the to varieties Sharad is the black variety and Thompson Seedless is green
variety of table grapes .Sharad takes100-110 days to harvest after the flowering stage so the yield starts
from the monthof late December. It is mostly exported to ME as the quality assurance parametersare
less binding on the Middle East than to the European Union.

4.1. Residue Analysis:

Sampling of grapes for residue analysis is usually done 10-20 days beforeharvest .5 kg sample is taken
randomly from each farm, in which 3 kg is crushedfor testing immediately and 2 kg sample is kept in cold
storage foe 45 days till theconsignment reach destination without any hindrance. There are eight
authorizedinstitutions throughout India that can conduct residue analysis test .The list of
theseauthorized residue testing institutions are given in the annexure. For this test, theycharge Rs.300/
sample for one pesticide and Rs 7500/ sample for all 87 chemicals.APEDA will give 50% subsidy foe
reside analysis. This year National HorticultureMission (NHM) has given 100% subsidy for residue
analysis test of allhorticultural produce. Residue analysis report will be given to farmers within 6-8days.
The residue analysis test is done for 92 chemical.
4.2. Harvesting

:Harvesting is done in morning hours based on the specifications of importer.Weighing is done

immediately. The quantity harvested is entered in farmer’sregistry.

4.3

Knitting and Sorting/ Grading

: Afterwards knitting of non uniform andwater berries is done followed by sorting and weighing as per
importersrequirement.Usally Export specification will be as follows.

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4.4

Weighing and Packing

Grapes are usually packed in three types of Cardboard boxes for export each box will have to be packed
with grape guard, tear off liner and bubble sheetsfor Europe. For Middle East, each box has to be packed
with paper cuttings,along with grape guard tape to hold two boxes.

a)

5 kg Punnet packing :

In this 500 gm transparent punnets are used.Totally 9-10 punnets are needed in each 5 kg Card board
box. The punnets are imported from South Africa and Italy From last one year UK and European imports
are demanding grapes in punnet packing only.

b)

4.5 kg Pouch packing:

9 plastic pouches of approximately 500 gm arekept inside 4.5 kg card board boxes. The demand for this
type of packaging has decreased considerably with arrival of punnets.The cost of pouch will be around
50 paisa each.

c)

9 kg Pouch packing: 17-18 plastic zip pouches of approximately 500 gmare kept inside 9 kg card boxes.
The demand for this type of packaginghas decreased considerably with arrival of punnets.

Cost of packing for UK and EUCost centre of packing5 kg Box40 ft container(14.5 MT)
Cost box @Rs.5.5 /kg27.580000Punnet @Rs 5/ punnet5026100Grape guard@1.66/kg8.324070Bubble
sheet @16 paise/kg0.82320

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Tear off Liner @39 /kg1.955655Total 88.75138145

4.5

Pre cooling and Cold Storage

: Pre –cooling is done at 0-9 C for 6-8hours.Usually cold stored for 5-8 days depending on export
suitability. For storing the produce for 6-8 days, Rs 5 kg is charged.

4.6

Palletization

: Wooden pellets are used to keep card boxes with in thecontainers. Grapes are exported in 40 ft
container. Each container can hold 20 pallets and carries 14.5 MT of grapes.Package One pellet20
pellats/ container 9 kg Card board box80 boxes 1600 boxes5 kg Card board box120 boxes 2400 boxes4.5
kg Card board box 3200 boxes 3200 boxes

4.7 Before palletisation,

a)

AGMARK

certification is compulsory, which is issued by Directorate of Marketing and Inspection officer of

concerned area. AGMARK certification costs around 0.2 % of the FOB value. Usually this chargecomes to
around Rs.3000/ container.

b)

Fumigation certificate:

As wooden pallets are used to keep boxes incontainer .fumigation certificate is necessary for grape
export .This will

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be issued by Private certified Pest control agency or pellet supplier fumigation charge is Rs 20-25 /
pallet. So for a 40 ft container containing20 pallets, this charge may end up at Rs 400-500.

c)

Phyto Sanitary certificate :( PSC)

It can be availed from directorate of plant protection, Quarantine and Storage, Ministry Of
Agriculture.Usually in Maharashtra District Superintending Agricultural Officer (SAO) will look after
procedures, for issuing PSC usually 0.2% of theFOB value is charged.

Following information is collected from Exporter for issue of PSC forGrapes:

1.Application2.Copy of Import Permit3.Letter of credit/ agreement4.Performa invoice5.Copy of Import

Export code6.The white and green copy of residue test report7.Container loading sheet/Packing
list.8.Copy of declaration by farmer 9.Farm inspection report

10.

Exporter’s declaration.11.Pack house recognition certificate issued by APEADA.

12.

Self- certified copy of the certificate of AGMARK Grading (CAG) ISSUEDBY the concerned Office of
Marketing and Inspection.

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13.A Challan of prescribed fess paid for inspection.

d)

Stuffing Permission

: It is issued BY Central Excise and Customsdepartment. Stuffing permission is the permit to export a
good to a particular place / nation from central excise. It is life time permission.Quality parameters such
size, packing, temperature requirements should be according to the importers specifications. It is better
to getrequirement from the importer in writing in Purchase order. Pack thematerial strictly as per the
sample provided by the importer’srequirement.

4.8
Loading of container

: Refer container usually comes from JNPT to thefarm gate. While loading the grape to container, Central
excise officer willinspect the commodity as per the purchase order and seal the container. Oncethe
container is sealed, it cannot be opened by anybody till it reaches itsdestination.Usually pack house
order charge Rs 7/ Kg for labor, harvesting, transport tocold storage sorting, grading, packing loading to
container. This Rs 7/ kginclude ‘commission agents/packers margin of Rs.2-2.5/kg .It does notinclude the
package material cost, cold storage costs and diesel andelectricity charges. Totally the procurement cost
comes roughly to aroundRs 12/ Kg including cold storage charges.

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Transportation Charge to carry a 40 ft refer container toJNPT, Mumbai.

Sr. NoFromTransportation cost1Nasik Rs 20000/container 2PuneRs 18000/ container 3Sangli/ Tasgaon Rs

25000 / container

4.9

Procedure of Shipment

:Services of Customs House Agents (CHA’s) to be reserved to carry outnecessary logistic and paperwork
required for export. Jobs like space for exports, order for the container, and custom clearance of origin
etc .iscarried out by CHA. An efficient and competent CHA should be appointed.Following is the list of
documents to be provided to CHA.- Letter of Credit (if available)- Invoice- Certificate of origin.- Phyto
sanitary certificate- Packing List (if items are more)- Customs / Excise Formalities and charges.For agro
exports, excise duty is not applicable. Customs Duty @ 1% withrespect to the cost of the invoice is
charged while processing the documents.

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CONCLUSION

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The advent of new varieties having high consumer preference and technicaladvancement in cultivation
has made this crop more popular.


Owing to the nutritional and medicinal values of the fruits, there is preference among the consumers in
the domestic and international markets.

Thomson seedless and sharad seedless variety is best suited for cultivation inthe tropical areas. This
variety is one of the best varieties suitable for export purpose and it is gaining popularity among
consumers.

Most of the Grapes produced is consumed locally and about 1 per cent isexported. The exports have not
been substantial since the internationalstandards were not known.

Of late, Indian grapes have penetrated into the European Union sincesuitable varieties conforming to
international standards are being produced.Karnataka has exported about 2000 MT to other countries
during the lastfew years. There is potential for export to the United State of America also.Diseases such
as Powdary mildew, Downy Mildew, etc., have created problems in obtaining economic yields.

Proper varietal selection, crop and post harvest management, infrastructuresuch as cold chain, facilities
for marketing etc, will augment the cultivationof quality grapes and will help in increasing the exports to
a tune of about20,000 – 30,000 MT tons.

In this background, India can definitely make a dent in grapes trade in theworld market.

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