‘At least 50% reduction in overall production’

Echoing a familiar fate shared by many farmers worldwide this year, grape growers in India have predicted at least a 50% drop in grape production due to inclement weather, the Times of India reported.

what’s going on

The Maharashtra region, one of India’s largest grape growing states, experienced a cooler than average monsoon season this year. Since June, Maharashtra has received 996.7 millimeters, or about 39 inches, of rain this monsoon season, which is 104% more than average, according to the Humanitarian Aid International fact sheet.

Heavy rains have inundated 94 villages in 7 blocks, affected 58,000 households, killed thousands of animals, and damaged more than 7 million acres of farmland in the Maharashtra region, according to Humanitarian Aid International.

Grapes were one of the crop groups affected by excessive rainfall.

According to the Times of India, the Nashik district, known as India’s wine capital, typically produces 1.5 million tonnes (1.7 million tonnes) of grapes during the growing season. However, rainy and cloudy weather presented less-than-ideal growing conditions for these grapes, which could reduce the harvest to 700,000 tonnes (770,000 tons) by the end of the harvest.

According to the Times of India, grape farmer Arvind Valero of Vadner Bhairav ​​said, “In a normal year, 900 grape plants per acre produce around 35,000-36,000 bunches. This year we are seeing only 1,000 bunches per acre.”

Ontario pumpkin farmers have experienced similar disappointing yields in their pumpkin fields, with over 70% yield losses.

“We have estimated at least a 50% decline in overall production this season,” Kailas Bhosle, president of the Maharashtra State Draksha Bagayatdar Sangh, a state-level body representing grape growers in Maharashtra, according to the Times of India.

Why is crop production important?

Adverse or extreme weather conditions can cause excessive stress on grapevines, resulting in diseased or damaged fruit or leaves, low or inconsistent quality grapes. A 50% drop in grape production could cause major losses to the $385 billion global wine industry, raising production costs that are ultimately passed on to the average consumer.

Grapes, however, are not the only food crop affected by adverse or extreme weather conditions.

In the UK, barley harvests have fallen by 14% due to drastic and unpredictable changes in weather patterns. Farmers in Ukraine are suffering heavy losses of more than 40% of their pear crops due to an unexpected frost at the beginning of May this year.

Reduced crop yields represent financial losses and increased pressure for farmers, and more expensive groceries for the average consumer. These losses can also encourage further habitat destruction by removing wildlife habitat to develop agricultural fields, increasing crop success.

What is happening to the reduced crop production?

Statistics show that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense due to rising global temperatures. If the crop losses suffered by farmers this year are any indication of what is in store for the coming season, we must prepare farmers to survive the crisis.

In addition to calling on governments to mitigate agricultural losses, farmers, researchers and scientists can play an important role in managing crop success. Scientists are studying how to modify food crops, such as tomatoes and rice, to be more resilient to weather extremes.

Receive TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices — and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD’s exclusive Rewards Club.