- Indian grapes are poised to become the next Darjeeling tea in terms of marketability, according to Dr. Subrata Gupta, Secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).
- Despite being a major grape-producing nation with an annual production exceeding 3,900 thousand tons, India exports less than 10% of its grape produce due to challenges such as lack of awareness and inadequate infrastructure.
- The National Grape Summit in Pune aimed to bring together policymakers, researchers, farmers, businesses, and tourism promoters to exchange ideas and experiences in the grape industry.
- Developing and disseminating technologies to enhance grape productivity and quality is crucial to ensure better financial returns for farmers and discourage shifting to other crops.
- To boost grape exports, it is important to explore indigenous grape varieties and expand market reach beyond traditional EU destinations.
- Pune, Maharashtra, was chosen as the venue for the summit due to its central role in India’s grape industry, with the state contributing around 80% of the country’s grape production.
- Pune offers participants exposure to advanced grape farming techniques and successful practices, as well as being a key player in India’s wine industry.
- The region’s excellent accessibility by air, road, and rail ensures seamless participation from stakeholders across the nation.
- International experts, including Simon Wiebusch from Bayer South Asia and Dr. Nilanjan Sanyal from BASF India Ltd., addressed the summit.
- The summit also included visits to grape vineyards and wineries in Nasik to promote grape tourism, similar to how tea tourism is promoted in Darjeeling and other north Bengal districts.
Thanks For Reading Report of Punepress.com