Maharashtra government plans financial aid for grape farmers

Representational image. File pic

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne on Wednesday directed officials to prepare a detailed proposal on including grape cultivation under the ‘Bhausaheb Fundkar Fruit Orchard Plantation Scheme.

The decision aims to extend targeted support to grape farmers across Maharashtra, officials said.

Focusing on strengthening the state's export-oriented horticulture sector. The directive by Bharne was issued during a high-level meeting held at the Mantralaya in Mumbai, they said.

An official statement said, the discussions focused on expanding the scope of the scheme to benefit grape growers by reducing production costs and boosting export potential. The Maharashtra Government, during the meeting, also indicated a positive stance on the proposal and is also considering pilot-based financial assistance for grape cultivation.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Agriculture Ashish Jaiswal, MLA Rohit Patil, Agriculture Commissioner Suraj Mandhare, Director Ankush Mane, and representatives from key farmers' bodies, including the Grape Growers' Association and the Farmers' Purchase and Sale Union (Tasgaon), along with senior officials from the Agriculture Department.

Financial assistance for cultivation

During the discussions, officials informed that a proposal seeking per-hectare financial assistance for grape cultivation under the existing orchard plantation scheme has already been submitted to the government.

Officials further noted that separate eligibility criteria would be framed specifically for grape growers, along with the identification of suitable grape varieties based on regional agro-climatic conditions.

Minister Bharne further highlighted that grapes remain a key contributor to Maharashtra's agricultural exports and stressed the need to strengthen export-linked farming systems further. He reiterated the government's commitment to supporting high-value crops that enhance farmers' income and improve global competitiveness.

Grape juice park, research centre planned

The proposal also includes plans for establishing a ‘Table Grapes Juice Park' and a ‘Tasgaon International Grape Research Centre' focused on post-harvest technology in Sangli district's Tasgaon taluka. The minister expressed a positive inclination toward both initiatives and instructed the Agriculture Commissioner to hold consultations with global research institutions, including centres in California, to refine the proposals.

According to officials, these initiatives are expected to provide technological support, improve processing infrastructure, and enhance value addition in the grape sector, further strengthening Maharashtra's position as a leading grape-producing state.