Ice flakes formed as a result of a sudden temperature drop early on Thursday have destroyed nearly 30-40% vineyards in the Nashik region, even as shocked farmers are struggling to cope with the coldest year in the last 25 years — 2012.
Mercury hovered below zero in grape-growing centres — Kalwan and Sakore villages. The worst-hit areas include Niphad, Nashik, Dindori and Kalwan talukas; all are grape-growing centres and have reported the maximum crop loss.
On Thursday, mercury dipped to 2.7°C in Nashik city, while the Wheat Research Centre at Niphad recorded 2°C. It was -2°C at Kalwan and -0.2°C at Sakore village.
“Ice flakes are worrying. If this chill continues, the berries will split and the crop will be gone,” said Kalpana Kasar, a farmer from Saude Darna village near Nashik.
Stating that almost all the vineyards from Niphad to Saikheda had been hit, Pushkar Hingne of Chandori village said, “The dew froze into a sheet of ice and covered the leaves. It affected their cell growth and turned them black. In two days, the leaves will drop, as will the young berries.”
Vijay Gadhak, president of Maharashtra Rajya Draksha Bagayitdar Sangh (Nashik), said, “Farmers who had done the cutting in the last week of October and first week of November are the worst-hit, as the berries in their vineyards were still in the ripening stage. Those harvesting now are worried, as the berries are likely to crack due to the cold.”
“Nothing can be done now to arrest the situation. It’s a big loss,” he added.
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