Vision 2025 - National Research Centre for Grapes

1. PREAMBLE
Grape is an important fruit crop of India. Commercial grape cultivation in India is only half a century
old. Originally, a temperate crop, the major grape area in India lies in the tropical regions of
peninsular India, though parts of north India also grow grapes to some extent. India grows grapes
mainly for table purpose and has reasonably high level of productivity in the world. Around 1/5th
of the total produce is processed to produce raisins. It is considered as one of the most remunerative
farming enterprises in India since there is a good back up of backward and forward linkage for this
crop and offers employment to large number of skilled and unskilled people on the farm, in trade and
service.
Economic analysis indicates a continuous increase in production and development of trade of grape
and grape processed products in international market. However, India's share in the international
grape trade remains meager as the exports of table grapes account for 2 - 3% of the total production
and Indian raisins are still not exported. While achieving high productivity, the quality of fresh
grapes and the processed products with reference to various standard parameters could not be
maintained.
To boost the grape industry through need based basic and strategic research and also to address the
future challenges and to exploit opportunities, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
approved the establishment of the National Research Centre for Grapes in 1993 vide the sanction
letter No. 1(2)/92-PI&M (Part-III) dated 16th September 1993 at Manjri on National Highway No.
9. The Centre started functioning in Pune at Manjri, from 18th January 1997.
2. MANDATE
To undertake the programmes involving basic and strategic research for resolving the major biotic
and abiotic constraints affecting the grapes production, productivity and sustain productivity and
promote diversification to wine production and other value added products.
Based on this mandate the research is conducted with the following objectives:
1. To collect, characterize, evaluate and catalogue Vitis germplasm
2. To maintain core field germplasm with wide genetic base
3. To develop varieties with economically important traits for table, wine, raisins and juice.
4. To develop appropriate and economically viable agro techniques for quality grape production
5. To sustain the productivity and quality through management of biotic and abiotic stresses
6. To develop technologies with minimal dependence on agro chemical inputs
7. To develop appropriate pre and post harvest technologies for extended shelf-life and processing
into value added products
8. To develop strategic alliances for research and transfer of technologies
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