A Few Words

About Us

At a Glance

A Few Words About Us

MRDBS (Maharashtra Rajya Draksha Bagaitdar Sangh) is a pioneering cooperative federation dedicated to the growth and empowerment of grape growers across Maharashtra. Established with a mission to support sustainable grape cultivation, MRDBS serves as a vital platform for uniting farmers, sharing knowledge, and ensuring fair market access. With decades of experience in the horticulture sector, MRDBS plays a leading role in facilitating technical guidance, market linkages, export promotion, and quality improvement for grape growers. The organisation promotes scientific farming practices, provides timely input support, and helps members adapt to modern, globally competitive standards. Driven by the vision of farmer prosperity through collective strength, MRDBS continues to work tirelessly for the welfare of grape cultivators—helping them achieve better yields, better prices, and a better future.

Traditional Practices and Early Challenges Before 1960

Roots of Grape Cultivation in Maharashtra

Before 1960, grape cultivation in Maharashtra was mostly traditional, with minimal adoption of modern techniques. While foreign countries saw rapid advancements in viticulture, local growers remained unaware of these developments. Limited support from the government’s agriculture department and colleges—due to the small area under grape cultivation—meant that grape farming in Maharashtra stagnated for decades, lacking research, innovation, and strategic vision.
Nashik district, later renowned for its ‘Nashik Grapes’, had a few progressive growers before 1960, but due to a lack of technical knowledge and research, there was little improvement in grape quality or varieties. Despite favourable geographical conditions, poor market prices and weak commercial returns discouraged farmers, keeping grape cultivation confined to a few districts with only a handful of dedicated growers.

Our Vision

Building a Better Future for Maharashtra’s Grape Farmers

For Grape Cultivation

• To strive for the all-round development of grape cultivation.
• To conduct research for improving grape production and quality.
• To develop or import advanced grape varieties and supply them to grape growers.
• To study the suitability of new or imported grape varieties in various climatic conditions across
Maharashtra.
• To properly plan integrated pest and disease control.
• To strive to reduce the cost of production for grape cultivation.
• To promote effective irrigation methods like drip irrigation for vineyards.
• To conduct research on attractive packaging materials, transportation, storage, and processing
for sending grapes to domestic or international markets after harvest.

For Grape Producers

• To provide free guidance on various issues related to grape cultivation.
• To disseminate technical knowledge on grape cultivation to grape producers through magazines,
booklets, study groups, seminars, and other media.
• To supply fertilisers, medicines, chemicals, etc., required for grape management to grape
producers on a ‘no profit, no loss’ basis.
• To assist grape producers in importing new grape varieties and certain medicines and fertilisers.
• To assist with transporting grape produce via railway.
• To guide grape producers on issues arising from grape export.
• To establish cooperative societies and assist grape exporting or processing organisations
through them.

Our Impact in Numbers

Training Sessions & Workshops Conducted

0 +

Districts & Regions Supported

0 +

Grape Growers Empowered Across Maharashtra

Tons of Grapes Exported Annually

Members

10000 +