Introduction and Significance

Grapes are a high-value horticultural crop in India, cultivated for use as table fruit, for making raisins (dried grapes), and increasingly, for producing wine. The cultivation is concentrated primarily in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, with Maharashtra's Nashik district famously known as the 'Grape Capital of India'. The economic significance of grapes is profound for the regions where they are grown, as it is a highly remunerative crop that generates significant employment and export revenue. The burgeoning Indian wine industry is entirely dependent on specific grape varietals, creating a niche, high-value market. Nutritionally, grapes are a good source of vitamins C and K, and are rich in antioxidants, particularly resveratrol, which is associated with various health benefits.

Grape cultivation is an extremely labor and knowledge-intensive venture, fraught with several cultivation risks. The crop is exceptionally sensitive to weather conditions; unseasonal rains, hail, or temperature fluctuations during the flowering or fruiting stages can ruin the entire harvest. It is also highly susceptible to a host of fungal diseases, most notably Downy Mildew and Powdery Mildew, which require a rigorous and expensive schedule of fungicide applications. Water management is critical and costly, often requiring sophisticated drip irrigation systems. Market access and price realization are major hurdles. For table grapes, farmers face risks of price crashes during peak season and stringent quality standards for export markets. For wine grapes, they are heavily dependent on contracts with a limited number of wineries, giving them little bargaining power.