State faces 20K ton deficit
Hyderabad April 4:
Grape cultivation in Telangana has decreased significantly in the last two decades due to real estate expansion, resulting in the state’s dependence on imports from other states to meet its grape needs. According to officials, grape cultivation has dropped to 793 acres, causing a significant shortfall of over 20,000 tons in the state’s demand for 31,000 tons of grapes.
The decline in grape cultivation has led to concerns among experts and the Horticulture Department, which has recommended expanding grape gardens in an additional 4,970 acres in five districts, including Nagar Kurnool, Vanaparthi, Narayanapet, Mahbubnagar, and Nalgonda. The report suggests that grape cultivation will increase only if small farmers are encouraged to take up cultivation.
Officials note that grape cultivation has been a significant part of Hyderabad’s history, with vineyards sprawling across thousands of acres on the outskirts of the city, even during the Nizam era. But in recent years, grape cultivation has been decreasing due to the influence of real estate and increased investment, with several vineyards turning into real estate ventures.
The state government has been criticized for not encouraging grape farmers despite the significant shortfall in grape production. While the authorities are making efforts to promote grape gardens in small plots in Rangareddy district by showcasing the work of some exemplary farmers, experts warn that grape gardens in the state could disappear entirely in a few years if the government does not encourage farmers towards grape cultivation.
The per capita consumption of grapes in Telangana is 1.92 kg per year, with 41.37 percent of the population being grape eaters. The current yield of 11,145 tons is worth Rs.44.58 crore, while the state needs 31,772 tonnes of grapes worth Rs 302.4 crore. Imports of grapes worth Rs.196.34 crores mainly from Maharashtra are meeting the shortfall in the state’s grape needs.
