Strawberries to be late by a month or more

Prolonged monsoon and high temperature led to delay in planting of the fruit saplings in Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani

Those looking forward to fresh farm strawberries from the slopes of Mahabaleshwar to hit the markets anytime now,will have to wait longer this year at least till November-end or even mid-December.

Prolonged monsoon and high temperature led to delay in planting by almost a month,which,in turn,has reduced the overall produce by almost 20 per cent.

The usual strawberry season begins with the mother saplings being imported from California in June. These are then planted in nurseries of villages like Wai along the foothills of Mahabaleshwar,220 km from Mumbai. Each plant gives about five to six runners which are re-planted in the fields in September.

All India Strawberry Growers Association chairman Balasaheb Bhilare said the strawberry was planted on over 1,800 acres of land last year and they had hoped to increase it to 2,000 acres this time. Rains,however,spoilt the plan.

Also,for the second consecutive year farmers wont be able to export the fruit. Usually,first strawberries from Mahabaleshwar hit the market during Diwali. This year the first lot will be out only by end of November or beginning of December, said Balasaheb,adding that the domestic demand has increased over the last two years leaving little scope for export.

The first phase of planting,which usually turns into the best crop,was lost in September due to return of the monsoon. This year,however,the re-planting was delayed till October third week.

I initially planted the fruit on a three-acre plot but the rains destroyed the initial crop. We had to remove it and ensure that the soil is prepared in another round of planting. Almost 20 per cent of the produce was lost, said Ganpat Parthe,who has strawberry farms at Bhillar village near Panchgani.

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Bhillar village has the largest strawberry plantations with almost every farmer having one strawberry farm each.

Parthe has cameroza and sweet Charlie varieties of strawberry. His second plot,stretching on four acres on the other side of the hill,has begun bearing fruits but not big enough to be taken to the market.

A couple of km away,Nilesh Bhilare,another farmer,watches as a help sprays disinfectant on the crop. Bhilare hopes to pluck fruits from his fields in another three weeks.

Almost 90 per cent of the planting done in September was destroyed and we had to start all over again. I will have to wait for the produce until December, said Nilesh.

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He says the strawberries available in markets as of now are from nurseries in Wai.