Institutional Role on Promotion of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Export of Grapes

The study aims to find out the roles played by different institutes in promotion of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and export of grapes. The study was conducted in Nashik and Sangli districts of Maharashtra. Total 70 farmers, 35 from each of the two districts along with 19 scientists of National Research Centre (NRC) for Grapes and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK), 30 line department staff and 20 exporters were selected as respondents to carry out the study. Interview schedule was prepared and administered to the farmers and stakeholders of institutes under study for assessing their role in promotion of GAP for grapes. Maximum number of farmers were found to be in contact with KVK (77.14%) followed by NRCG (57%) and MRDBS (50%). Less number of farmers was found to be in contact with SAU (8.57%), MSAMB (8.57%) and ATMA (7.14%). Majority of the beneficiaries claimed that they availed advisory services from NRCG, KVK, State Department of Agriculture, ATMA and SAU. For MRDBS, MSAMB, APEDA and MAHAGRAPES most of the beneficiaries were found to gain services on market linkage and support. It was further exposed that majority of the beneficiaries (62.5% and 57.14%, respectively) reported the services of NRCG and MAHAGRAPES to be “very good”. MAHAGRAPES was found to have maximum number of respondents reporting it to be both “highly useful” (90.48%) and “highly satisfactory” (85.71%). The findings will be useful for other institutes that can promote GAP in other major grape growing regions in the country.