Maharashtra’s grape heartland of Sangli is set to gain a strategic institutional boost, with Shivaji University, Kolhapur approving in principle the establishment of a dedicated raisin research centre aimed at strengthening India’s raisin value chain.

The decision follows a sustained demand from Sangli MLA Sudhir Gadgil and reflects growing policy recognition of the district’s central role in the country’s grape and raisin economy.

Sangli is among India’s largest producers of grapes and raisins and hosts a dense cluster of processing units, yet lacks a specialised research institution focused exclusively on raisins. Addressing the Senate of Shivaji University, Gadgil argued that this gap has left growers and processors without access to structured scientific support, even as export markets become more competitive and imported raisins—particularly from China—exert pricing pressure on domestic producers.

The proposed centre is designed to address this deficit through applied research, quality improvement, processing innovation, and skills training. University officials indicated that the facility would support raisin growers and processors in improving productivity, meeting evolving quality standards, and enhancing value addition, thereby strengthening Maharashtra’s competitiveness in both domestic and overseas markets.

Given that Sangli district falls within Shivaji University’s academic jurisdiction, the Senate accepted the proposal to establish the centre under the university’s aegis. Raisin producers in Sangli and neighbouring districts have long maintained that while the region’s output enjoys strong demand and a reputation for quality, the absence of dedicated research and development support has limited its ability to move up the value curve.

The university plans a phased rollout, beginning operations from a temporary location before shifting the centre to a permanent site at a later stage. Recruitment of specialised staff and researchers will be taken up in due course. For Sangli’s raisin ecosystem, the move signals an effort to convert production strength into long-term resilience—anchored in science, skills, and institutional backing at a time when global competition is intensifying.