India is facing a structural shortage of fresh raspberries, which is becoming a key driver for the development of local breeding and domestic production, EastFruit reports.
Due to economic and regulatory constraints, importing fresh raspberries into the country is virtually impossible, meaning that all growing demand must be met exclusively by local producers, according to Hortidaily, citing Berryland by Parth Farms.
“Domestic demand for raspberries in India significantly exceeds supply due to import barriers. All consumption must be covered by local production, as fresh raspberry imports face both economic and regulatory restrictions,” says Tanvi Karvat, representative of Berryland.
Berryland is a laboratory recognized by India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT), specializing in the production and adaptation of planting material to local climatic conditions. The company is located in Mahabaleshwar — the informal “berry capital” of India. The five-acre nursery includes a demonstration farm where varieties are tested under temperatures of up to 42°C and annual rainfall of around 120 mm.
Currently, Berryland offers four licensed raspberry varieties — RaNi, KalyaNi, PradhaNi, and RajNi — sourced from international breeders and adapted locally.
“These varieties fruit without requiring a cold dormancy period and perform well under monsoon conditions. Experienced farmers can plant all four varieties to ensure year-round production through staggered harvest periods, while beginners are advised to start with RaNi and KalyaNi, which provide early yields and sweet berries within 3–4 months. PradhaNi and RajNi can then be added to increase overall productivity,” Karvat explains.
The company’s main customers include professional farmers shifting to high-margin crops, urban residents investing in agriculture, and nurseries targeting the hobby gardening market.
The time to first harvest ranges from 3 to 9 months, depending on the variety and climatic conditions. Some varieties allow two harvests within the first year.
“We supply single-cane plants that multiply rapidly, so farmers see yield increases of up to 100% after the first harvest by retaining new shoots emerging from the roots,” Karvat notes.
In the second and third years, yields continue to increase due to a higher number of canes. According to her, raspberries show high adaptability to temperature and soil pH and can be grown across most of India, except in regions with waterlogged soils.
“Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka were the first states to start commercial production. However, the industry is still at an early stage and remains limited to pilot areas, as farmers are still evaluating yields, technologies, and market prices. At the same time, there is enormous growth potential as more states come on board,” he emphasizes.
A major challenge remains the lack of technical expertise and access to capital. Since raspberries are a year-round crop, protected cultivation — such as polyhouses and plastic tunnels — is required, which raises the investment threshold.
“We are building a specialized technical team to transfer knowledge as the number of growers increases. Lack of capital is also a serious challenge, as year-round production requires protected structures such as semi-greenhouses or polycarbonate tunnels. We see that horticulture departments are beginning to offer subsidies to ease this burden,” Karvat says.
In the coming years, Berryland plans to test new premium varieties with larger and sweeter berries, targeting both the domestic market and future exports.
“The next trials at Berryland will focus on sweeter and larger premium varieties tailored to Indian consumer preferences, which will pave the way for exports once the domestic market deficit is addressed within the next 3–4 years.”
Karvat also calls on international breeders to take into account India’s climatic conditions and logistics infrastructure, placing particular emphasis on post-harvest shelf life and fruit firmness, given the developing cold chain and higher ambient temperatures.
Regarding plant variety protection and the risk of illegal propagation, the company considers the situation to be under control.
“India’s new laws, combined with partnerships with reputable laboratories, provide an adequate level of protection. Raspberry growers prefer high-quality planting material from reliable sources rather than risky self-propagation, which minimizes piracy at this early stage of market development,” Karvat notes.
Berryland continues a family tradition that began in 1989, when Tanvi Karvat’s father first introduced American strawberry varieties to India. Today, the company is expanding its portfolio by developing blueberry and raspberry production, laying the foundations for a new high-margin niche in Indian horticulture and potentially in the export trade of fresh berries.
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