India's appetite for berries is growing, but production faces a unique set of challenges. Strawberries remain the mainstay in Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka, but domestic supply of blueberries and raspberries is just starting to take root, says Dr. Bharat Bhojane of Cal Pacific Agri Solutions. "India's position is comparable to Europe and Latin America two decades ago, characterized by strong consumer demand but an underdeveloped production base.This highlights a clear market gap and a compelling opportunity for growers, investors, and entrepreneurs," he adds.
According to Dr. Bhojane, emerging farms and production hubs are investing in protective cultivation, including low-cost tunnels, polyhouses, and climate-adapted berry varieties in efforts to sidestep climate constraints and match the fast-rising demand. Still, Dr. Bhojane warns, "Genetics and varietal suitability remain core challenges, especially for blueberries and raspberries, which need low- or zero-chill varieties suited to subtropical and semi-arid regions."
© Cal Pacific Agri Solutions
The sector's growth trajectory, Dr. Bhojane maintains, is held back by the need for agricultural expertise, robust post-harvest infrastructure, and financing solutions tailored to horticulture. He observes, "The perishable nature of berries demands cold chains and careful handling. Existing infrastructure is still developing, which can lead to post-harvest losses and inconsistent quality."
Cal Pacific is responding with a turnkey, science-led approach, offering integrated services from breeder-backed genetics to IoT-enabled nutrient delivery and remote agronomic guidance. "Our turnkey model eliminates dependency on fragmented vendors and replaces trial-and-error with science-backed execution to deliver a replicable, profitable, and future-ready berry cultivation model for India," Dr. Bhojane shares.
© Cal Pacific Agri Solutions
Projects now span pilot and commercial farms, corporate-backed ventures, and community-led value chains across major growing states, with renewed focus on professionalizing strawberry, blueberry and raspberry production. Dr. Bhojane predicts that demand for health-oriented foods, retail and hospitality partnerships, and online grocery channels are expected to drive double-digit berry consumption growth in coming years.
For now, Dr. Bhojane emphasizes the need for policy support, global tech transfer, and investment: "With the right mix of government backing, technology partnerships, and investment, India can replicate the success seen in countries like Peru, Chile and Mexico," he concludes.
For more information
Dr. Bharat Bhojane
Cal Pacific Agri Solutions
Tel: +91 98 22 098 103
Email: [email protected]
www.calpacificagri.com
