Grape farmers face winter of discontent

Vijayapura’s grape farmers are struggling to save their vines from withering away in the winter.

The prevailing drought in Vijayapura has affected farmers who grow grapes, one of the major commercial crops in the district. The primary reason has been the poor rainfall this year. According to officials of the Agriculture Department, the district has received only 50% of the average rainfall this year.

With borewells now gradually going dry, the farmers are forced to save the vines by buying water through tankers, which is proving to be expensive.

Only a few farmers are in a position to spend around ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 daily to water the vines.

The farmers say grapes need a constant supply of water. If not, the stems dry up, and if that happens, then the entire vine withers. In such a case, replanting is the only remaining option for the farmers which, according them, is costlier than saving the existing vine.

Grapes are cultivated on around 11,500 hectares in the district. To get a good crop, the farmers take up pruning work during the winter.

“But now, our priority is to save the plants from withering rather than getting a good yield. We can only get a yield if we have healthy vines,” said Sanganabasappa Patil, a grape farmer of Babanagar village of Vijayapura taluk.

He said that each vine needs at least 30 litres of water daily. If the vine does not yield enough grapes, it also affects the production of raisins.