Prices of Strawberries likely to soar in Maharashtra
Strawberry Prices Soar In Pune As Unpredictable Weather Hits Crop Yield
By: Pune Pulse
October 25, 2023
Pune: Buying a much-popular fruit around winter time i.e. Strawberries might prove to be a very costly affair for people as the prices of strawberries are likely to shoot up.
Speaking to Pune Pulse, Balasaheb Bhilare, President, Strawberry Grower Association of India, Mahabaleshwar said, “The price rise will be there for strawberries for some time when they arrive in the state in November & December. The cultivation of strawberries in Mahabaleshwar is usually done in 3,000 to 3,500 hectares every year. However, for this year, the cultivation is a bit less as it is being done in 2,000 to 2,500 hectares. An important cause of this is scanty rainfall during the month of September.”
As per further information shared by Bhilare, a lot of strawberries in Maharashtra come from Mahabaleshwar alone. The initial rate of strawberries going from Mahabaleshwar to other places in the state would be around Rs 300 to Rs 400 per kg.
Bhilare further stated that the strawberries are usually picked early so they can be sold at the local markets. Growers get good prices for them, and when the fruit arrives, they sell it to companies. The quality of the strawberries is very good and they supply to different fruit markets all over the country, and some even export. Last year, the strawberry crop was really hit hard due to the unseasonal rains in October and November, which caused the fruit to arrive late at the market in Pune.
Another strawberry grower, Krishna Bhilare, said “Currently, the crops of Strawberry have been sown in the fields. The strawberries are expected to be fully grown by November. Even though the rainfall in September has been a bit minimal, the crops seem to be fine. Hence, the cultivation & production of strawberries this year seem to be ok as of now.”
Shreyas Vange
