Government Positive on Meeting Demands of Grape Growers’ Association – Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar inaugurates the 65th Annual Convention and Grape Conference of Maharashtra State Grape Growers’ Association

Pune, Aug 2025 : The state government is working for the welfare of farmers. It is because of grape growers that true prosperity has come to Maharashtra. The government is positive about fulfilling the various demands of the Grape Growers’ Association and will stand firmly with them, said Deputy Chief Minister and District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar.

Pawar was speaking while inaugurating the 65th Annual Convention and Grape Conference of the Maharashtra State Grape Growers’ Association held at Hotel Tip Top International, Wakad, Pune. Agriculture Minister Dattatraya Bharane, MLA Shankarrao Mandekar, Union Deputy Secretary for Horticulture Sanjay Singh, Agriculture Commissioner Hemant Vasekar, Association President Kailas Bhosale, NRCG Pune Director Kaushik Banerjee, Chilean grape scientist Carlos Flodi, Association Vice President Maruti Chavan, Treasurer Shivajirao Pawar, Central Science Committee President Abhishek Kanchan and many others were present.

Deputy CM Pawar assured that a meeting will soon be convened in Mumbai to discuss the demands presented by the Association President, and positive decisions will be taken. For central-level demands, discussions will be held with Union Ministers and a meeting will be arranged with central officials in Delhi. “There will be no hurdles from the state government in fulfilling these demands,” he said.

He further emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring progress for even the poorest citizens of the state. “Farmers are our true identity. Guided by the vision of Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, and Babasaheb Ambedkar, we continue to move forward. Various schemes are being launched for farmers through both the state and central governments, but we must also remain alert to market competition,” he added.

Pawar promised that state-level demands raised by President Bhosale will be addressed before the upcoming legislative session. He urged farmers to also focus on the vast domestic market. The government is working on creating new market opportunities for farm produce. He assured adequate funding support for the Association, and said women self-help groups will be prioritized for drone spraying subsidies.

Agriculture Minister Bharane said, “I am first a grape grower and then an Agriculture Minister. Your concerns are like family matters. We will ensure that farmers get better incomes. The suggestions given by the Association will be seriously considered. The agriculture department will always remain committed to supporting the marketing of grape produce.”

President Bhosale expressed gratitude to Deputy CM Pawar for sanctioning ₹500 crore for AI technology development in agriculture and for increasing subsidies for raisin processing. He requested further improvements in the solar pump scheme, including extending electricity bill waivers to 10 HP pump owners. He also highlighted difficulties faced by needy farmers in the government’s cover crop pilot scheme due to stringent conditions, costly resources, and high taxation.

Bhosale also announced plans to organize grape festivals across the country. He urged the government to reduce stamp duty on farm lease agreements from 50% to 1%, provide refrigerated vans for grape transport to the Northeast, exempt farmers’ tractors from transport department fitness certificate norms, and revive the grape crop insurance scheme at ₹1 premium.

On this occasion, Krishi Bhushan Suresh Eknath Kalmkar and Chilean grape scientist Carlos Flodi were felicitated. The souvenir ‘Draksha Vritt’ was also released by Deputy CM Pawar.

At the start of the program, Pawar visited various stalls set up by different companies in the exhibition. A large number of current and former office bearers of the Association, company representatives, and grape farmers from across the state were present.