Imports to help faster cultivation of grapes

NASHIK: The Maharashtra Grape Growers’ Association vice-president Ashok Gaikwad said they are planning to import table grape varieties from South Africa as local varieties take a long time for cultivation. “These varieties include white, black and red in both seed and seedless categories. Efforts will also be made to supply these varieties to maximum farmers in a short period,” he said.
Gaikwad told a meeting of the district grape growers here on Tuesday that they have gone for open variety of grapes, as royalty will have to be paid for patent variety.
Nashik District Grape Growers’ Association president Vijay Gadakh said Indian varieties take around four months or 120 days to develop and they also require a lot of pruning.
“The pruning is generally done in September or October. Most of the time, monsoon affects the vineyards in September. Hence, we were in search of those varieties that can be developed in a period of less than three months and will require less pruning,” he said.