A sustainable ecosystem

for grape production

Case Study // The India Grape Initiative

What was the market situation?
India’s grape export market is growing, as the country gains
a reputation as a cost-effective alternative to established
grape-producing countries such as South Africa or Chile.
An estimated 280,000 tons of grapes were exported in
2021/22, with the EU the highest-volume destination. There
are around 150 exporters in India who handle grapes,
ranging from large exporting companies to smallholder
collectives. The highest-producing region is Maharashtra,
where Nashik is known as India’s grape capital. In this
region, there are as many as 50,000 farmers who grow
grapes: mainly smallholders with just 1 – 3 ha of land.

What were the challenges?

Grape-growing smallholders have faced rapidly increasing
challenges in recent years. Firstly, climate change is driving
more volatile weather events, particularly out-of-season
rainfall, which can exacerbate problems with downy mildew
and bunch rot at flowering stage. Secondly, European
retailers’ certification and transparency requirements What was the solution?
continue to increase, and in particular their ambition is to
see less and less chemical residue in products. When The entire value chain is working together on sustainable
farmers are spraying more to combat season-long solutions for Indian grape production. In a project designed
outbreaks of fungal diseases and pests, this is doubly by Greenyard Fresh and the Food Chain Partnership,
difficult to achieve. Finally, COVID-19 has caused supply dedicated teams are running grower training, designing
chain disruption and led to an increase in freight costs – and new residue-compliant spraying programs, implementing
these costs are not forecast to come down until 2024 digital passports for traceability, and undertaking other
at least. sustainability initiatives – all with a view to making grape
production more precise, increasing return on investment
for smallholder farmers and developing a sustainable
ecosystem for grape production. Run by dedicated project
officers in Maharashtra, the project engages smallholders
with the BayG.A.P. service program, using the ‘five Ps’
model for capacity-building: Production (agronomic advice
and integrated plant protection), Protection (use of
personal protective equipment and new processes to
minimize exposure), Passport (traceability tools), Post-
Harvest Management, and ongoing Program Monitoring to
ensure long-term compliance. Farmers initially participate
in a group training program, taking place either virtually or
face-to-face. The aim of this training is not just to advise on
the most effective crop protection products and technical
guidelines, but also to effect a mindset change, growing
“With full control of our “field to fork farmers’ awareness of constantly-changing Maximum
strategy”, together with our farmers, Residue Levels and the need for a ‘constant improvement’
exporters, logistics and retailer approach to quality and safety. The training is followed with
partners, our aim is to ensure we
one-to-one field visits from project officers, who can advise
have the most efficient and solid
on practical implementation and assist with the use of
supply chain out of India, ensuring
a safe, consistent and innovative traceability tools, such as smartphone apps (Digital
supply to our final consumers.” Passport) that track crop protection inputs. At the same
time, wider sustainability initiatives are being implemented
// German Ponce – such as separate training for farmers and exporters on
(Greenyard – Fresh Solutions) safe handling of pesticides and a farm plastic waste
management campaign including the establishment of
local collection hubs for farm plastic waste.
 INDIA

What did we achieve?

The project started in 2011 – 12 with three exporters on board. A decade later, it has grown
massively, and 24 exporters are now associated with the partnership. Some 1,500
smallholders are now being supported by the project, accounting for nearly 10 % of
India’s total grape exports to the EU. These farmers are now better equipped to handle
pest and disease challenges, to meet European buyers’ quality standards and certification
norms, and to actively identify more ways to farm precisely and achieve even better results.
Word is spreading fast about this scalable project, and the partners are already planning how
to reach the remaining 90 % of production and support every smallholder within an
integrated value chain.

“With a partnership approach, the small farmer can play an important role in the international market.
He is now on a level playing field with big farmers from South Africa or any other part of the world.
That is the biggest success: as Indian farmers, despite our challenges, we can still become
professional farmers, enter the global market, and participate in an efficient ecosystem that
benefits us and our land.”
// Vilas Shinde, MD, Sahyadri Farms (India’s largest fruit and vegetable farmer collective)

“When it comes to the Food Chain Partnership, Bayer is always there to guide the farmers through the
BayG.A.P. service program regarding the certification standards that buyers specify.
Bayer’s advisors help us understand and implement the specifications of each supermarket, which can
vary from retailer to retailer. With their help, we can feel confident that we are supplying the high-spec
fruits they need, instead of stressing about it.”
// Sudhir Tarale, Director – Fresh and Fair Exports LLP-Nashik (grape exporter)
 About
Food Chain Partnership
Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of the need for healthy nutrition. Food
Chain Partnerships help to supply consumers with high-quality fresh produce, which forms
the basis of a healthy diet. But such partnerships can only succeed if they involve every
player in the food chain – from the farmer and processor to the exporter or importer and
retailer. The Crop Science Division of Bayer has the global experience and cutting-edge
expertise to create a successful partnership at every level.

Fresh and Fair Exports LLP

Gat No.1074/1079 A
Opp.Nashik Airport
A/P: Janori, Tal: Dindori
For more information contact: Dist: Nashik 422206
Maharashtra, India
Sanjay Narang
Bayer CropScience Ltd. Internet: www.freshandfair.in
Bayer House, Hiranandani Estate,
Thane (W) – 400 607, Maharashtra Sahyadri Farms
India Factory: Gat No. 314/1 and 314/2
A/P Mohadi,Tal. Dindori, Nashik – 422207
Email: [email protected] Maharashtra, India
Web: www.bayer.in
Email: [email protected]
Bayer AG Internet: www.sahyadrifarms.com
Crop Science Division
Alfred-Nobel-Str. 50 Greenyard – Fresh Solutions GmbH
40789 Monheim Universitätsallee 16
Germany D – 28359 Bremen / Germany

Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Internet: www.freshsolutions.de/en/
© 2022 by Bayer Crop Science

FCP-22-1690
! For further information visit our website:
http://www.foodchainpartnership.com/

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