Grape is one of the ancient and important crops of the world. According to De Candolle (1886), the plantation of grapes in Egypt goes back to 4,000 BC. It was introduced in the Indo- Pak sub continent somewhere in the year 1300 AD. A few known varieties were cultivated in Afghanistan by the Muslim rulers during the 14th century. According to some sources grapes seems to have originated from Pakistan Caucasus Mountain area. There are still wild varieties of grapes in the hilly regions of northern areas of Pakistan. About 100 varieties of them have been collected by the University of Oregon and are still in quarantine with USDA.

Grapes can be eaten raw or are used for making jam, jellies, vinegar, juices wine grape seed extracts, raisins and grape seed oil. They are also used in some kinds of confectionary. In India and Pakistan it is consumed both fresh and in a dried form called Kishmish and Monaka. They grow in clusters of 6 to 300 and can be crimson, yellow, green, black, pink and dark blue.

Grape has great quantity of carbohydrates. It has first class source of potassium which encourages an alkaline blood balance and also stimulates the kidneys and regulate heart beat. It is a good source of energy. It is indicated in case of constipation, gout, rheumatism, skin and liver disorder. Grapes dried to produce raisins or currants contains high qualities of born, which is mineral that has an important role in maintaining good bone health.  Grape has sodium calcium phosphorous, iron and manganese. Further, it contains biotin, niacin, inostiol, pantothenic, acid, pyridoxine, hydrochloride, thiamine, folic acid, thiamine, ascorbic acid and riboflavin.

Principal grape producing countries are Italy, France China, United States, Spain, Turkey, Iran and Argentina. Chile, India, France, Spain and Italy cover the most acreage of grapes followed by Turkey and Georgia. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) 75,866 square kilometers of the world are dedicated to grapes. About 71 percent of the world grapes production is used for wine, 27 percent as fresh fruit and 2 percent as dried fruit. A very small portion is used for producing juice.

Top Ten Grape Producing Countries – 11 June 2008

SL No       Country                  Production (000 Tonnes)

1.                Italy                                         8,519,418

2.                 France                                   6,500,000

3.         People’s Republic of China         6,250,000

4.          United States                                6,105,000

5.          Spain                                             6,013,000

6.          Turkey                                          3,923,040

7.             Iran                                             3,000,000

8.            Argentina                                    2,950,000

9.             Chile                                            2,350,000

                                10.             India                                          1,667,700

The grape cultivation is one of the most money making enterprises in India. India ranks the tenth position in global in terms of production.  It occupies the sixth position amongst fruit grown there.  The average grape yield in India is above 20 tonnes per hectare which is among the highest in the world.  Approximately, 85 percent of total production regardless of variety is consumed fresh, 12 percent is dried for raisins, 1 to 2 percent is used for juice and the remaining for making wine. The Indian wine market is growing speedily at 25-30 percent annually for the past five years.

More than 120,000 tonnes of Thompson Seedless are dried for raisins. The important kinds of grapes grown in India are Thomson Seedless, Sonaka, Anab-e-Shahi, Bangalore Blue, Pusa Seedless and Beauty Seedless. India has achieved a good export market for grapes in European union, Middle East, United Kingdom and South Asian Countries.  Maharashtra is the major grape growing state in India followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The Government of India is helping the grape industry by providing the farmers various soft loans and subsidies for establishing vineyards installing drip irrigation system and pre-cooling and cold storage facilities. It is also providing research support to improve productivity of grapes under deteriorating situation.

In the year 2008-09 the grape production in Pakistan was estimated to be 122,000 tonnes on an area of about 14,000 hectares. This was the highest production in the last nine years. There was a dramatic growth of 62.7 percent in 2008-09 over last year.  During the review period of last nine years grape production was growing at the rate of 11.5 percent per annum. Grape production in Pakistan is vastly contributed by the province of Balochistan. After apple grape is the major fruit crop in Balochistan. It contributes 98.5 percent and 97.2 percent in an over all area and production of Pakistan. Pishin, Killa Abdullah and Mastung contribute more than 70 percent to area and production of grapes in the province. The other grape producing areas are Quetta, Zhob and Loralai. The production of grapes in NWFP is very much less in quantity. In Pakistan, only European grapes are cultivated for human consumption.

Grape crop require in Pakistan long, warm, dry summer and cool winter for best growth. Mountainous and sub-mountainous areas up to 2,000 m or even more are fit for grape cultivation. Growth of grapes on heavy clayey should be totally restricted. A deep fertile easily drained soil with a moderate amount of organic matter is best. In Punjab monsoon rains result in fungal diseases. It is necessary that those varieties should be selected that mature before monsoon. Irrigation is necessary every day after plantation but after an interval of 20 to 25 days irrigation be applied in summer and once a month in winter. In order to maintain the efficiency of the plant Phosphorous and Potassium fertilizer should be applied during winter or early spring. The grape leave Hoppe is the common insect pest feed on the vines. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease prevalent in grapes. This disease can be controlled by applying fungicide before symptoms appear.

The scientists have evaluated at NARC and have revealed that Flame Seedless, King’s Ruby and Perlette are early in maturing and can be successfully grown on commercial scale in monsoon rainfall region of Punjab. If this production technology is adopted in good faith it will eliminate poverty in monsoon rainfall region of Punjab. Despite being a valuable cash crop Pakistan’s grape production is limited and its requirement for grape is met from Afghanistan and Iran. Seedless Thomson varieties of good size are in great demand in Europe. The Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board in this context have imported two varieties of grape seeds ‘Red Glob’ and ‘Seedless Zero Thomson’. On an experimental purpose these varieties of grapes have been cultivated in Islamabad and Murree areas and after successful results they would be grown in other cool areas of the country. It must be remembered that these have the same sweetness as Pakistan ‘Sunder Khan.’ Sunder Khan contains seeds and has no demand in international market.

Pakistan in order to make the grape crop commercially viable must take concrete measures to boost its production for both its domestic consumption and for export purpose. It has the entire environment available to expedite the grape production fruitfully. With some steps already taken like the seedless grapes cultivation on an experimental basis in some areas of the country and the feasibility report of successfully growing three types of grapes on commercial scale in monsoon rainfall region of Punjab there are somehow or another bright prospects for increase local consumption and exports. Now Pakistan must focus on greater mechanization, labor requirements and good crop management and better marketing practices. Also, the greater attention should be on quality and cost competitive. The government must provide research support to sustain the productivity of grapes under adverse situation.