“It is a sensitive matter as any misinformation or panic in farmers will affect the prospect of the growing wine industry in Maharashtra,” says NRC Director Dr P G Adsule.

The concern is understandable given that the Indian wine industry is growing at a rate of 30 to 40 per cent. Last year, Maharashtra produced 9.4 million litres of wine and this year the production is expected to cross 13 million litres from 51 wineries. The total investment in wineries in the state stands at Rs 247.71 crore and the state exported 0.45 million litres of wine last year. The domestic wine consumption in 2006-07 went up up to 11.30 million litres, from 7.50 million litres a year ago. Wine production especially got a boost after 2003 when the state announced sops for farmers.

The NRC report notes that initially, imported material was grown only in close vicinity of wineries and vineyards owned by firms such as Chateau Indage. “However, with the introduction of contract farming, most wineries are importing planting material,” says the report.

“The virus bug will kill the industry,” fears Ashok Gaikwad, who has been in grape cultivation for more than a decade in Nashik, the Napa Valley of Maharashtra. “Cultivation of wine varieties is growing and this year it has reached around 6,000 acres.” He suggests that instead of stopping import of the plant, only the mother cane should be allowed to be imported and then grafting could be done indigenously.

Many other farmers are concerned as well. “I have signed a contract with a winery to cultivate the Australian variety of Siraj in my two-acre plot. I have already invested over Rs 2.50 lakh,” worries Ajit Walzade, a farmer from Narayangaon in Pune district. He wants the state government to tighten the prevailing quarantine system.

... contd.