Indian grapes

Seven containers of Indian table grapes are en-route to the UK this week, marking the official start to India's 2012 grape export season, reports The Times of India.

Pandurang Watharkar, director of processing and planning at India's department of agriculture, told the paper that further consignments were also being prepared for shipment to the Netherlands.

"Seven containers, each containing 14 tonnes of grapes, have been shipped to the UK, and are expected to reach there by next week," he said. "Another major market for Indian grapes is the Netherlands, from where most of the prominent cities in Europe are covered." 

Growers have reported favourable growing conditions and expect good yields, which could help boost exports.

Indian suppliers are also confident the grapes will fulfill stringent European quality standards this season.

Rajaram Sangle, managing director of Sangle Agro Processing, told the Times of India that farmers were well-trained about prescribed use of fertilisers, pesticides and other chemicals. 

In 2010, Indian grapes were rejected on the grounds of excess residue of a growth hormone, banned by the EU. Farmers incurred heavy losses that year, and in 2011 exports fell by 50 per cent.

This year, 17,800 farms have registered for exports, each of which is expected to supply 15 tonnes of export-quality grapes, the paper said.