Rains hit grapes crop production: G’bal farmers

Srinagar, August 12: The farmers in Repora and adjoining villages of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district which are famous for grape cultivation on Saturday said this year’s rains have affected the crop.
Repora and its adjoining villages in the district are famous for their unique grapes and almost every household cultivates grapes which are now turning to be a new cash crop.
However, this year as Kashmir witnessed torrential rains it has affected the grape production in villages although farmers are yet to harvest the fruit.
Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, a farmer from Waliwar said this year, the rains have affected the crop as compared to last year and they do not expect the price they got last year.
“The rains have hit the crop. This year there is less production as compared to the previous year. Last year, the production was good and we had good returns,” he said.
Kashmir is known for many types of quality fruits but many are unaware of grapes of Repora village in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district which according to some experts exceed international standards fixed for the fruit.
In the village, grapes are cultivated in about 60 hectares which is a source of livelihood for many people during harvest season. The grapes of the village are known across Kashmir.
Ghulam Hassan, a grape farmer from Repora said this year at least 20 to 30 percent of the crop has been affected by rains adding that this year they expect decline in production.
“The horticulture officials in the district have not even visited the farms. At least they should have surveyed the area so that the farmers would have a sigh of relief,” he said.
The garden owner said he works very hard to increase the farming but sometimes they suffer a huge loss due to different diseases.
“If we do not use spray on time to cure disease, the entire crop will be affected and the people associated with it will have to suffer heavy losses,” he said.
The grapes of Repora are ready when fresh grapes are not even available anywhere in the world except in Italy. The grapes fetch a good price in the market. The Sahibi variety is sold at Rs 200/Kg and Hussaini variety for Rs 100/Kg.
Another farmer, Abdul Hameed said besides Italy, the Repora area is perhaps the only place in the world where fresh grapes are available in large quantities.
According to locals, the grape crop in Ganderbal began when Maharaja Hari Singh first brought it from Afghanistan to India.
“Even Maharaja used to grow grapes in his land in Repora which is with the Horticulture Department today,” the locals said.
Main varieties of grapes grown in Kashmir are Sahibi, Hussaini, Kishmish, and Perlette. Well-drained sandy loam soil is best suited for grapes.
Ganderbal area of the valley, especially Lar block, is known for the production of high-quality grapes. Prominent grape-producing villages are Repora, Watar, Khanhama.
As per official figures of horticulture dept., there is a total area of 232 hectares of area under grapes production in Kashmir which includes 202 hectares in Ganderbal district alone, 16 hectares in Baramulla, 5 hectares each in Bandipora and Kupwara, and 4 hectares in Kulgam.
Officials of the Horticulture Department said the valley annually produces 1615 mt grapes of which 1285 mt is produced in Ganderbal district followed by 274 mt in Baramulla, 30 mt in Kupwara, 14 mt in Bandipora, and 12 mt in Kulgam.
The valley annually generates Rs 12 crores (approximately) and the horticulture department expects 1700 mt production of grapes this year.
The official said the department has taken initiatives for the promotion and production of high-quality grapes. The area expansion program launched by the department has encouraged farmers to bring more area under high-quality grape varieties.
“The dept. provides a high-quality support system for grape plants, which has replaced the traditional wooden support system that was the main cause of diseases/pests in grapes,” they said.
Speaking about the diseases faced by grapes during harvest time, the officials said heavy infestation of diseases especially during the rainy season is very common in these vineyards.
“The departmental interventions and canopy management has drastically reduced disease incidence in grapes thereby resulting in significant improvement in quality,” they said.