Pune: Indapur APMC Sees Record-Breaking Pomegranate Prices Amid Supply Shortage
Indapur, 19th July 2025: Fruit growers in the Indapur region are celebrating as pomegranate prices soared to historic levels at the local Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) auction held on Friday. Premium-grade pomegranates achieved a remarkable rate of ₹451 per kilogram, while second and third grades were sold at ₹400/kg and ₹350/kg, respectively. The sharp rise in prices has generated renewed optimism among local cultivators.
Tushar Jadhav, Chairman of Indapur APMC, attributed the recent surge in market activity to the attractive rates. “Earlier, many traders were purchasing pomegranates directly from the orchards, which led to fewer arrivals at the APMC. But with these high prices, farmers are returning to the market yard to sell their produce. We anticipate a steady increase in arrivals in the coming days,” he said.
Historically, Indapur was a prominent pomegranate-growing belt in western Maharashtra, with thousands of acres once dedicated to the crop. However, the spread of Telia Rog (oily spot disease) drastically reduced production in recent years. The disease forced many farmers to uproot their orchards, resulting in a significant decline in cultivation across the region.
In recognition of Indapur’s potential, former minister Harshavardhan Patil had established a separate Pomegranate Market Yard within the APMC complex, which over time became a hub of economic activity for fruit growers and traders.
However, the past 4–5 years saw repeated crop failures due to persistent disease outbreaks, making pomegranate farming increasingly unviable. With rising input costs and poor returns, many growers abandoned cultivation altogether.
Recently, though, a section of farmers has resumed pomegranate farming with renewed hope. Yet, due to the earlier dip in production, current market supply remains limited, leading to heightened demand and escalating prices. According to local trader Rajabhau Gawali, Friday’s rates were the highest seen in recent memory.
The exceptional prices have sparked fresh enthusiasm among growers, who now believe that—with improved disease control and stable market conditions—pomegranate cultivation could once again become a profitable venture in the region.
