GRAPE GAINS: GETTING ACCESS TO THE BEST VARIETIES By Mr. Manik Patil
Climatic Conditions for Grapes Grapes are grown under a variety of soil and climatic conditions in three distinct agro-climatic zones : Sub tropical Region :This region covers the northwestern plains corresponding to 28 and 32 N latitude Hot Tropical Region: This region covers Nashik, Sangli, Solapur, Pune, Satara, Latur and Osmanabad districts of Maharashtra; Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Mahbubnagar, Anantapur and Medak districts of Andhra Pradesh; and Bijapur, Bagalkot, Belgaum, Gulberga districts of northern Karnataka lying between 15 and 20 N latitude. Mild Tropical Region : This region covers 10 and 15 N latitude including Bangalore, Kolar districts of Karnataka & Theni districts of Tamil Nadu
Grapes In India
Grapes In Maharashtra
Production of planting material Multiplication on Own Roots Raising on Rootstocks
Varieties grown in India Harvesting Schedule of Table Grapes -India Variety/ Months Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Sharad Seedless -Black Flame Seedless -Red Jumbo Seedless -Black Sonaka Seedless -White Thompson Seedless Fantasy Seedless -Black Crimson Seedless -Red India s table grape industry is mainly dependent on Thompson seedless variety & its varients Sonaka & Ganesh Coloured varieties under production include Flame Seedless, Crimson Seedless (red) and black grapes Fantasy Seedless and Sharad Seedless
Current Status : Export India exports around 5% of its total grape production, Domestic market consuming the balance. Nasik, located 170km north of Mumbai, accounts for 90% to total exports.
Challenges with present varieties Thompson Seedless With its subtropical growing climate, India is in a unique position whereby there is a high variation between daytime and nighttime temperatures during the veraison (berry softening stage) of the growing cycle. Temperatures often vary between 26-28 0 C during the day and 7-14 0 C at night. The grapes are therefore wrapped in paper on the vine to avoid the berries turning pink. In addition, due to low temperatures during the cell multiplication stage, plant growth regulators have to be used for berry sizing, which in turn affects the eating quality of the grapes.
Flame Seedless (Red) & Sharad Seedless (Black) Coloured varieties such as Flame and Sharad are not accepted, largely due to issues with shelf life in Flame Seedless and eating quality in Sharad Seedless.
Fantasy Black Seedless Black variety Fantasy Seedless is well accepted in UK, but plantations are very small because it is difficult to grow due to low fertility, bunch abortion, decay in flowering and not getting bigger berries, so it has not gained acceptance in Asian markets, which prefers bold and sweet berries.
Crimson Seedless There are new plantations of Crimson though few acres. The protocol for growing is still not well established Early pruning results in dark color (February/ early March harvest) And late pruning (mid March April harvest) results in lack of color.
Why India needs new varieties?
UK Grape market : 2016 Spend Volume Average Price Explanation Fruit +4.0% +3.1% +0.9% Consumers are buying fruit more frequently and a greater volume per trip. This is largely due to price cuts in Tesco And Sainsbury s increasing purchase frequency. Grapes +1.9% -2.3% +4.2% The grape category increased in spend YoY as a result of price increases in Tesco, Asda, Morrison s and Aldi. Despite the rise in price, purchase frequency has increased, demonstrating that consumer demand for grapes is strong. Red +3.7% -0.1% +3.8%. The increase in price failed to decrease frequency of purchase, signifying that red grapes are becoming an everyday item. JS s price cut to 1.50 in April 2015 increased purchase frequency of red grapes significantly. White -12.8% -17.3% +5.3% White Grapes were the only grape line to under-perform when compared to the overall grape category. This was mainly due to reduced penetration, demonstrating declining consumer popularity and loyalty. Mixed Pack +34.9% +40.8% -4.2% The Mixed Grape line had the second largest increase in spend, this was largely driven through more shelf space being dedicated to this line and new customers buying into the category. The convenience and variety that this pack offers is popular in a number of consumer demographics. Black +38.4% +46.9% -5.8% Black Grapes had the largest increase in spend YoY, largely due to increased penetration. Increasing popularity is largely driven by greater shelf space, now that the price is regularly in line with the red and green SKU s.
New Market Opportunities Variety Target Markets Target Period Red Globe Asian markets light & dark colour October to July Crimson / Red Seedless All markets Year round New White Seedless varieties Eg: Korea (large berries) Eg: China (large berries) November to April Black Seedless varieties Eg: Asian markets October to July
India s access to Market Country India Current Access Comments Transit Time Korea X 3,240 containers from Chile Big white seedless market 8% of Chile 340 containers from Peru 14 days China / Hong Kong 6,300 containers from Chile 4,550 containers from Peru NeedRed / Blackvarieties 14 days USA X 29,000 container market just for Chile / Peru 26 days Brazil X Growing from Peru 1,600 containers from Chile Huge clamshell market & Thompson 30 days
India s access to Market Country India Current Access Comments Transit Time Canada East coast opportunity 1,700 container market for Chile / Peru 26 days Japan X White seedless and Red Globe market 814 containers from Chile 19 days Philippines X Red / Black varieties 365 containers from Chile / Peru 16 days Indonesia X Red / Black varieties Huge market for Peru 600 containers between Peru / Chile 11 days
India s access to Market Country India Current Access Comments Transit Time Central America X 4,000 containers just from Chile 600 of which are white seedless 900 from Peru too Colombia } Ecuador } 37+ days Mexico } Thailand 300 containers from Chile 1,000 containers from Peru Big Red / Black opportunity 10 days
Need for New Varieties in India From the UK Market Sales data 2016, the demand of white seedless is diminishing fast and Indian Exports is predominantly of white seedless Market share of colored grapes red and black is increasing year on year Also looking at new market opportunities for Indian Grape Industry, India s Grape Industry needs colored grapes (red & black) with bold color and sweet flavor New white varieties that can be grown in local conditions with minimal use of plant growth regulators and without paper wrapping
Hurdles to Developing New Varieties India is not a signatory to UPOV(Union for Protection of new Variety of plants) Indian land holdings prohibit individuals from owning more than 7ha of farming land, as a result India has an abundance of small farmers, making it difficult to develop and control production on large tracts of land
Hurdles to Developing New Varieties These factors are deterring international plant breeders from introducing patented varieties in India the main concern being how to control illegal plantations and also how to secure their royalties on the volume of grapes sold on the domestic market. This is beyond anyone s control, and the amount sold on the domestic market is likely to be 15-fold more than the volume exported. Indian Government has introduced new law which is called PPVFR(Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmer s Rights Act 2001) which protects breeders and farmers rights on new registered varieties.
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