Rains reduce Indian grape exports by 26.47%

NASHIK: With the unseasonal rain and hailstorms badly affecting the quality and production, grape exports from Nashik district have declined by 26.47% in the current grape season (January-April) due to unseasonal rain and hailstorms in February and March. The district exported 49,443 metric tonnes of grapes by April-end in the current grape season, against 67,244 metric tonnes exported in 2014. Speaking to TOI, Jagannath Khapare, president, Grape Exporters’ Association of India (GEAI), said: “Close to 80% of the total grape exports of the state comes from the district.”