India: Labour charges hit grapes output in AP

Grape growers in Andhra Pradesh are feeling ‘sour’ over ripened berries. Reason: Apart from manpower shortage, labour charges have doubled in this plucking season thus hitting the output. Thanks to the boom in the construction industry, farm labourers are shifting towards construction where they are being paid Rs 300 a day as against Rs 100 a day in a grape garden. Besides, the production has also taken a beating with the total acreage coming down from 8,000 acre to 6,000 acre in the state.

According to C Kanaka Reddy, president, Andhra Pradesh Grape Growers Association, grape growing areas, which were closer to to-be newly-constructed Shamshabad airport, have now been acquired. “While land acquisition is one of the factors for reduced production, farmers’ interest for growing grapes is slowly diminishing,” he says. The rate of return for grapes is less in the domestic markets and hence not seen as a lucrative business, says another grower. Andhra Pradesh produces over 60,000 tonne and exports about 100 containers of grapes, predominantly to the UK market.

This apart, labour charges which were earlier Rs 100-150 for a day, have now gone up to Rs 300. “In some gardens, labourers are demanding Rs 500 per acre thus comparing it with the charges in the construction industry,” Reddy said. Moreover, not all can pluck the juicy berries and one needs expertise to pluck grapes as they are very delicate in nature.

“Of late, farmers are cultivating grapes as a part-time business rather making it a full time,’’ observe Apeda officials. This is because that they do have alternative source of income. Though these are good signs from the farmer’s income point of view, efforts do go in vain when the grape gardens are full of berries with no takers, agrees another grower. Similar trend is also being felt in Maharashtra, which leads in grape production having over one lakh acre.

Source: financialexpress.com