Experiment with new varieties to survive competition: Pawar

Pune, Aug 18 (UNI) Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today asked grape growers to experiment with new varieties and address the demands of the newly emerging retail markets and competition from foreign produce in order to survive.

Speaking at the 47th convention of grape-growers here, Mr Pawar said the revenue from export of fruits and horticulture products constituted around Rs 21 crore, while soyabean grown on far lesser tracts of land gave Rs 3,000 crore from exports alone.

He said presently, the cooperative concept may not work for the grape industry as it would be difficult to maintain and monitor standards in terms of quality and taste.

Earlier, Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Patangrao Kadam said special attention needs to be given to the fledgling wine industry.

''We have still not taken off and have to compete with foreign wines. In five star hotels, many duties on wine have been reduced that will pose a challenge to the domestic industry. Besides, only one per cent of grapes are used for wine while over 91 per cent grapes are used for wine abroad,'' he said.

All India Grape Growers' Association president Sopan Kanchan said the industry is facing tremendous challenges from the retail markets as they are free to import anything, including foreign wines.

Various types are being brought into the market, therefore, a need for related products apart from wine, like juices, and different flavours in grapes are being researched.

He sought more concessions in interest rates on loans for the grape industry. Others who spoke on the occasion were State Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, State Agri Marketing Board Minister Harshavardhan Patil and State Non-conventional Energy Minister Vinayak Kore.

UNI