NASHIK

The district of Nashik lies partly in the western ghats and partly in the western plateau region of Maharashtra and has a hot, humid climate. The district is drained by rivers such as Godavari, Mosam, Vaitarana, Bhima, Girana, Kashyapi, and Darana. Currently, Nashik has gained recognition as the 'Wine Capital of India' as it is now a significant grape-producing region, both for consumption as fruit and wine production. 

The roots of Nashik's agriculture can be traced back to ancient civilizations that settled along the banks of the Godavari River. As dynasties like the Satavahanas, Rashtrakutas, and Yadavas ruled the region, Nashik's agriculture flourished, especially cotton, which even today is highly promoted by the state in Nashik and other neighboring regions. The rulers introduced different crops and farming techniques. With the coming of the Mughals and later the Marathas, water management and irrigation systems saw improvement throughout the region. This led to a diversification of crops, as we can even see today, with farmers of Nashik producing crops ranging from grapes to onions to rice.

The British introduced modern agricultural practices and crop varieties. Cotton became an even more significant crop during this period, fitting into the colonial economic model. The colonial era also witnessed the beginnings of the implementation of systematic agricultural methods and the establishment of institutions to boost farming.

The late 20th century and early 21st century marked a significant shift in Nashik's agricultural landscape. As globalization took hold, Nashik began to produce crops not just for local consumption but for international markets. We also need to recognize the important role of the Green Revolution, which introduced high-yielding producing seeds, but this also led to the degradation of the river basins that flow through Nashik.

Crops such as jowar (sorghum) and bajra (pearl millet) were staples in the 1800s, according to the gazetteer. Rice was grown in areas with ample water availability. Various pulses, including gram, pigeon pea (tur), and green gram (moong), were common, serving as vital protein sources. As mentioned above, during the British colonial era, cotton cultivation gained prominence. Nashik's black soil was suitable for cotton, and it became a significant cash crop, aligning with the British demand for raw cotton for their textile mills. Groundnut (peanut) and sesame (til) were the primary oilseeds grown during this period.

Nashik is one of India's largest onion-producing regions, catering to both domestic and export markets. The Lasalgaon Onions are noteworthy as they received a GI certification in 2016.  Pomegranate production has become another major crop in the region, with Nashik contributing substantially to the nation's production. Sugarcane cultivation has expanded, driven by the establishment of sugar mills in the region. While cereals like jowar and bajra are still cultivated, their prominence has somewhat diminished with the shift towards more lucrative cash crops. Similarly, the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds continues, though the specific types and volumes may have varied over time.

Nashik has also become the “Wine Capital of India” because of the significant Grape production. In 2010, the Nashik grapes received the much-needed certification.

According to the Nashik district Gazetteer (1883), a diverse array of communities has traditionally been associated with agriculture in the district. Among them are the Konkani Kunbis, who migrated from Thane and specialize in hill cultivation. The Malis, who share similarities with the Kunbis, are often tenant farmers as they do not always own land. Another prominent group is the Marathas, a well-to-do landed community that plays a significant role in the region’s agricultural economy. The Thakurs, believed to have come from northern India for military purposes, have since transitioned into farming, while the Pahadis, originally immigrants from northern Bengal, are known for their cultivation and trade of vegetables and chilies.

Several communities work primarily as agricultural laborers due to a lack of land ownership. The Pardeshis, who are thought to have migrated from northern India approximately 300 years ago, often work as farm laborers. Similarly, the Pendharis and Kamthis serve as laborers, while the Tambolis specialize in the cultivation of betel leaves.

Indigenous communities also contribute significantly to agriculture in the district. The Kolis engage in tilling and often work as husbandmen. The Katkaris, originally from the Konkan region, primarily work as laborers, while the Berads earn their livelihood as daily wage laborers. Together, these communities reflect the social and economic diversity of Nashik's agricultural landscape.

In early 1925, the table grape revolution was started in Ojhar, a small town near Nashik, by Raosaheb Jairam Krishna Gaikwad. Today, these table grapes are exported to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The varieties grown include Thompson Seedless, Sonaka, Sharad Seedless, and Tas-e-Ganesh, and harvesting lasts from early February to early April. Niphad and Dindori are the two major grape-growing talukas of the Nashik district, as around 80 percent of the total production of the district comes from these two talukas. The total area and production of grapes in Maharashtra are more than 1 lakh hectares, with a production of 25 lakh MT. Nashik Valley Wine received its GI Tag in 2008, and Nashik grapes received their GI Tag in 2010. Nashik grapes contribute to around 73% of the state's production and 82% of exports. A few farms are also owned by farmer producer companies (FPC), which are a hybrid between a cooperative and a private limited enterprise.

The process of nursery production begins in October when saplings are sown in specially prepared seeding plots. These saplings begin to sprout within three weeks and, over the next three months, grow hard enough for further cultivation. In January, necessary inputs are added to the soil, which is then prepared for planting. Foundation pruning occurs in March-April, leading to the emergence of new shoots. By May, these shoots mature, and fruit buds start forming by June. Cropping and pruning are carried out between September and November to prepare the plants for fruit-bearing. The harvesting period in Nashik is unique, taking place between February and April, a timeframe not observed anywhere else in the world. This uniqueness allows Nashik grapes to command a premium in global markets.

According to a 2022 report by the Millennium Post, each grapevine has a productive life of 12-14 seasons. Unlike the mechanized vineyards of Europe and North America, grape harvesting in Nashik is done manually using scissors. Once harvested, the grapes are cleaned, sorted, and packaged into plastic crates weighing 20 kilograms each. The cleaned bunches are further weighed and packed into smaller boxes of 2 to 5 kilograms for transportation and export, maintaining their premium quality.

In hilly areas suited only for wood-ash tillage, the plow is not used. Instead, the soil is slightly loosened using a hand hoe. For other hilly lands, a plow lighter than the one used in the plains is employed. To prepare waste plain land for cultivation, a heavy plow drawn by four bullocks is initially used to break the ground. After the rains, the land is plowed four times from end to end to uproot weeds, which are left to dry in the sun and wind. When the first rains of the next monsoon soften the clods, the land is plowed once or twice more and weeded using a hoe in a crosswise pattern, a process known as dhalne. Finally, a clod-crusher, called phali, is dragged across the field to level and smooth the surface.

In hilly lands, regardless of whether the field is sloping or flat, seeds are sown broadcast in a thick pattern over a small plot of burnt ground. The surface is then loosened using an iron-tipped wooden hoe. Once the seedlings reach about a foot in height, they are transplanted in irregular rows into patches of prepared land.

According to the district Gazetteer (1883), in the plains, sowing practices differ significantly from those in the hills. For both early and late crops, seeds are sown in regular rows using a drill locally known as pabhar. This drill has a wooden cup, called a chade, at the top, which contains diverging holes connected to hollow bamboo tubes. The lower end of each bamboo tube is fixed into a wooden bill extending from a bar and equipped with a small iron tongue that furrows the soil. During operation, the driver continuously feeds seeds into the wooden cup from a grain bag. The seeds then pass through the bamboo tubes into the furrows created by the iron tongues. The number of bills and tubes varies depending on the type of seed. To ensure proper seed flow, the bamboo pipes have small side holes that allow for inspection during sowing. After the seeds are sown, the furrows are covered using a smoother called rakya, or a thorn harrow.

For smaller crops such as gram and safflower, the drill is not used. Instead, seeds are hand-sewn into furrows made by a light plow and then covered using a smoother or scalping knife. These tailored methods of cultivation reflect the diversity of agricultural practices in both hilly and plain regions.

According to a 2023 Times of India report, a Nashik-based start-up named Passenger Drone Research Pvt. Ltd. developed a software called AeroGCS Green, which would help farmers map their fields and guide the farmers in understanding when and where to carry out spraying of insecticides and how much insecticide needs to be sprayed. This would help the farmers immensely, especially in helping them and their laborers avoid any harmful effects by eliminating excess use. These types of software and drones are extremely popular amongst big farmers.

Grape farmers of Nashik face a variety of issues such as erratic weather, hailstorms, lesser export opportunities, and rising temperatures. To mitigate these challenges, maintaining climatic data and implementing weather forecasting systems at the village or cluster level are crucial.

Under its 2021-25 strategy, Fairtrade is a network organization of Asian and Pacific producers that represents small-scale producers, workers, and other producer stakeholders. Aimed to equip the farmers with weather-related information, to efficiently manage water resources through mobile app-based advisory systems and micro weather stations. To realize their goals, they also carried out a pilot project in 2023 under which they selected a few grape farmers who were given a smartphone-based mobile app to receive daily climate alerts and recommendations based on the data. Fairtrade also installed micro weather stations and carried out training programs for the said farmers. Almost every farmer involved in the pilot project gave positive feedback on the app and the overall project.

According to the NABARD. 2023-24. Potential Linked Credit Plan, Nashik has a somewhat developed agricultural infrastructure, which includes 17 Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs), 623 godowns, 70 cold storages, 7610  Agro service centers, 150 farmers clubs, 7 plantation nurseries, and approximately 2500 fertilizer, seed, and pesticide outlets. There are also two Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) supporting agricultural extension services in the region. In addition to this, there are 34 commercial banks, 1 Regional rural bank, District Central Cooperative bank, and 1057 Primary Agricultural. Cooperative Societies. However, the concentration of branches is mostly in urban, semi-urban, and metro areas. The areas of the district in which indigenous communities live, such as Surgana, Peth, Deola, Trimbak, and Kalwan, remain poorly covered in terms of the branch network.

A 2023 Hindustan Times report notes how Nashik and its farmers have made a fortune out of Grapes and Winemaking. The wine industry has a turnover of ₹1,000 crore in India, and Maharashtra produces 90% of India's wine, with 1.4 crore litres produced in 2022. The state has between 40-45 operational wineries. Of these, between 15 and 20 units directly market products, while the rest are only manufacturers. Around 29 wineries are located directly in Nashik, which produces around 80% of India’s wine. Nashik has also capitalized on ‘Wine-Tourism’ as it welcomes over 3.5 lakh visitors annually to its vineyards and wineries.

There are 17 APMC markets in the district with major commodities that are sold being Maize, Blurish-Millet, Tomato, Gram, Onion, Wheat, Pomegranate, Melons, Grapes, and Soyabean.

According to a 2019 Business Standard report, farmers in Nashik face numerous challenges, many of which are unique to grape growers in the district. In 2023, severe hailstorms caused significant damage to crops, particularly to vineyards. Similarly, in 2019, heavy rains and subsequent flooding devastated crops across 21,901.71 hectares of land in 758 villages. The worst-affected region was the Igatpuri taluka, which is dominated by the indigenous communities. Crops on 10,349 hectares across 126 villages were severely damaged. Other impacted talukas included Peint, Trimbakeshwar, Devla, Baglan, Dindori, Surgana, Sinnar, and Kalwan. Crops such as moong, bajra, cotton, soybean, tur, groundnut, varai, and nachani were particularly hard-hit by these natural calamities, compounding the struggles faced by the farmers in the region.

Grapes are no doubt a profitable crop, and they have indeed brought prosperity to many in Nashik, especially in the talukas of Niphad and Dindori, which are the major grape-producing regions of the district. However, not all is well in the famous grape country.

In December 2023, according to a few news reports by Times of India and Hindustan Times, Grape farmers of Niphad had to face a loss of crop that was spread over 30,000 hectares of farmland because of an unforecasted hailstorm. The heavy import duty imposed by major importing countries, such as Bangladesh, is another problem, as it reduces profits and affects exports negatively. Higher GST is another major issue, as the Centre has levied 18% GST on pesticides and fertilizers, increasing the cultivation cost for the farmers.

A few, such as JP Chavan, VD Kapadnis, and PP Shirsat, in their 2024 research article that talks about the Economic analysis of grape production in Nashik, say that the most important constraint on grape production is pest and disease infestation (downy mildew and powdery mildew), followed by labor scarcity. The farmers think that they can achieve only a Medium yield due to severe pest and disease attacks, and damage by changes in climatic conditions.