Stories
Madhubani's 'Grape Auntie' Achieves Feat: Red Grapes Thrive Where Cultivation is Difficult.
- •Aradhana Devi of Madhubani has achieved the impossible by cultivating red grapes in an area where grape cultivation is considered difficult.
- •She is known as 'Grape Auntie' as she is the first woman in Madhubani district to grow red grapes in her garden.
- •She planted the sapling 5 years ago, which took 2 years to mature and started bearing fruit from the third year.
- •Her red grape plant bears fruit all year round, yielding 25 kg of fruit last year.
- •Aradhana Devi has now cultivated both new red and green varieties, with neighbors visiting to see and taste the fresh organic fruit.
Key Questions Answered
Aradhana Devi planted a red grape sapling in her garden which took two years to mature and began bearing fruit in its third year, producing 25 kg last year. She maintains the vines using organic fertilizer, timely pruning, and regular root cleaning without needing expensive chemical fertilizers.
Grape cultivation is typically not possible in Bihar and is mostly concentrated in Maharashtra near Nashik. However, Aradhana Devi became the first woman in the Madhubani district to successfully grow red grapes in her garden, earning her the local nickname 'Grape Auntie'.
Proper plant maintenance includes timely pruning, applying organic fertilizer, and regularly cleaning the roots. According to guidelines, if these steps are consistently followed, the healthy grapevines will not spoil for up to 20 years.
