Constraints in production and marketing of grapes in sangli district of Maharashtra

Constraints in production and marketing of grapes have been identified by selecting 15 villages (8 from Tasgaon and 7 from Miraj tehsil of Sangli district in Maharashtra). Out of the total grape growers, 6 grape growers (2 for each variety of Sonoka, Thomson Seedless and Tas-A-Ganesh) were selected randomly from each village, making the total sample of 90 grape growers. The data collected for the year 2004–2005 have been analyzed by tabular method of analysis. The study has identified non-availability of skilled labour at proper time, lack of technical knowledge, non-availability of bank loans, non-availability of pure variety grafts at nearest places, and high cost of various inputs, viz. insecticides, pesticides, micronutrients as the major constraints in production of grapes in the Sangli district. The marketing problems have been revealed as high commission charges by intermediaries (48 per cent), high cost of transportation (44 per cent), high cost of packing material (10 per cent), low net returns, lack of pre-cooling and cold storage facilities, and longer chain of intermediaries in the marketing. The study has suggested that the number of market intermediaries should be reduced through establishment of co-operative marketing. Also, the state government should enact a policy on grape marketing similar to that adopted by Government of Andhra Pradesh, viz. provision of stalls to the growers in the urban markets.