Do not cross the pest control limit..! Russia and Sri Lanka halted the export of grapes

NewsBharati    18-Feb-2019
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Nashik, February 18:
Grapes can be sourer this year if farmers will keep spraying stronger pest control. Such chemicals are hazards to health. Especially, countries where quality control for food items are at their peak. Export of grapes to Russia and Sri Lanka has halted midway in the season over stronger pest control requirements from the destination countries.

 

“Plant quarantine issues have been raised by both Russia and Sri Lanka. “Both the countries have asked for a declaration of the entire area as pest-free,” said a farmer, Vilas Shinde, chairman of the Nashik-based Sahyadri Farms, a Farmers Producers Company (FPC).

“Sri Lanka’s requirements have been met and we are waiting for them to revert, however, in the case of Russia, the work is yet to be done. The necessary documentation is to be done by the agriculture department’s plant quarantine department.” He added.

Russia is a major export destination for Indian table grapes. Last year, Russia imported 27,434.29 tonnes of the produce from India whereas Sri Lanka imported 2,331.25 tonnes.

Similarly, a fruit fly fear had halted the export of Indian mangoes a few years ago causing havoc in the markets. Till date, as many as 550 containers of grapes have left for Russian shores, which Shinde said was at least 60 per cent of last year’s volume.

35,000 tonnes of grapes have been exported till date to the UK and Europe. “Technical issues have halted exports to Russia and Sri Lanka, We hope the issue will be resolved soon,” said, Jagannath Khapre, president of the Grapes Exporters Association.