With a population exceeding 1.45 billion people and steadily growing domestic demand, India is now positioned as one of the largest economies in the world.
This scenario has not only attracted the interest of fruit exporters but is also driving the development of local blueberry production.
Producers in India who grow blueberries in high-altitude areas benefit from greater flexibility in pruning practices.
The country’s main production regions are located between 11° and 34° latitude, encompassing diverse agroclimatic conditions.
Regarding production challenges, growers told Blueberries News that foggy conditions and low solar radiation favor the development of fungal diseases. These are mainly managed through the application of products with short pre-harvest intervals (PHI).
Climatic diversity and production potential
This reality is also well known to Simón Muñoz, an international blueberry production advisor at Consultora Agrícola y Comercial Santa María (CASM Blueberries), who has visited farms in the state of Maharashtra and in Bangalore, the capital of the state of Karnataka.
Muñoz explains that the country presents highly differentiated production zones. “In the north, in the Kashmir region, high-chill fruit crops such as apples and other pome fruits are being planted. There, the possibility of starting trials with high-chill blueberry varieties is being evaluated,” he notes.
In contrast, the central and southern areas of the country present conditions comparable to producing regions such as Mexico or subtropical areas of Africa. “In these areas, low-chill varieties are showing very good results. Therefore, India has the capacity to produce blueberries during the 52 weeks of the year,” he adds.
A domestic market with enormous potential
Another key advantage for the development of the industry is the size of the domestic market. “India has the largest population in the world, which translates into an enormous base of potential consumers. All the production growth currently taking place is mainly aimed at meeting local demand,” Muñoz notes.
The advisor adds that consumption is growing rapidly and supply is still limited. “Demand increases year after year, and local production is still not enough to meet it, especially in the Mumbai market. It is impressive: today, there is not enough supply to serve even a single city.”
According to Muñoz, this scenario opens important commercial opportunities for the global industry. “Some international exporters are already shipping fruit to the Indian market. The local market continues to grow, and I have no doubt that, in the near future, the volume of imports will increase,” he concludes.
