Meeting Led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Addresses Issues for Grape Growers

Mumbai : A meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar was held to address several critical issues affecting grape growers. The meeting focused on securing agricultural produce status, insurance protection, compensation, and subsidies for grape crops.

During the meeting, it was decided that a positive decision would be made regarding the inclusion of currant crops, derived from grapes, in the list of agricultural commodities after consultations with NABARD and other relevant agencies. A letter will be sent to the Central GST Council to request the removal of the five percent GST on currants, following the completion of preliminary procedures. Additionally, the National Horticultural Board will be approached to secure subsidies for plastic covers for grape vineyards to protect against damage from unseasonal rain, hailstorms, and natural calamities.

The meeting, held on August 30, included key figures such as Narahari Jirwal, Vice President of the Legislative Assembly; Additional Chief Secretaries Dr. Rajagopal Deora (Planning), Saurabh Vijay (Finance), and Abha Shukla (Energy); Principal Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister and State Tax Commissioner Ashish Sharma; Secretary of the Agriculture Department Jayashree Bhoj; Agriculture Commissioner Ravindra Binwade; and several representatives from grape growers’ associations and research centers.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar emphasized that currants, made from sun-dried grapes without mechanical processing, should be classified as an agricultural commodity, similar to turmeric and jaggery. He instructed officials to expedite the process of including currants on the agricultural commodities list to facilitate benefits such as GST exemption, compensation for crop damage, and subsidies.

Regarding the cancellation of the five percent GST on currants, a letter will be sent to the Central GST Council after necessary preliminary work. A request will also be made to the National Horticultural Board for subsidies on plastic covers to protect grape crops. Additionally, the Marketing Department has been tasked with exploring subsidy options for solar panels for cold storage.

Minister Pawar directed the Industries Department to address the conditions imposed by the District Industries Center for the Berdana cluster in Nashik. Efforts will be made through Apeda to expand grape markets in the U.S. and other countries. Funding will be allocated to the National Agricultural Development Scheme, “Per Drop, More Crop” (micro-irrigation), and the Chief Minister’s Sustainable Agricultural Irrigation Schemes. A meeting with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will be organized to discuss import pricing issues for grapes.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar assured grape growers that their demands for power concessions, insurance coverage, and subsidies will be addressed through central and state systems.