Karnataka: Vijayapura Farmers Hit the Jackpot With California’s Premium Aura-36 Grape Variety

Farmers in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district are celebrating success with California’s premium Aura-36 grape variety, known for high yields, low chemical use, and export demand, offering profits up to ₹160 per kg.

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California's Grapes Now in Tikota!

Farmers in Vijayapura's Tikota are celebrating a huge success. They are now growing the famous Aura-36 grape variety, which originally comes from California. This brown-coloured grape is catching everyone's attention. This achievement follows the vision of the late Siddheshwar Swamiji, who believed in the region's potential, and was supported by Minister M.B. Patil.

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What is this Aura-36 grape?

The Aura-36 grape is a brown-coloured variety that is very popular in California, USA. The best part is that it gives a high yield without needing a lot of chemical sprays. It looks great and tastes delicious too. This variety is a patented one from California's Grafa Global company. In India, Nashik's Sahyadri Farms (FPO) has the permission to expand its cultivation, and from there, it has now reached Tikota.

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Is it chemical or organic?

Krishnaveni FBO in Tikota introduced the high-quality Aura-36 grape with help from Vilasrao Shinde of Sahyadri Farms, Nashik. Earlier, farmers had to use many chemicals on varieties like Manik Chaman, Thomson Seedless, and Sonaka for flowering and colouring. But the Aura-36 grape doesn't need all that fuss. It grows well with just 20% of the usual maintenance cost and pesticides.

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First time in the state

After arriving in Nashik from California, this grape variety has been introduced for the first time in Karnataka by farmers in Tikota. Several farmers have started planting it: Sandeep Patil (1.5 acres), Yamanappa Konnur (1.5 acres), Rajendra Kusur (2 acres), Dr. Subhash Mudanur (8 acres), Raju Hallalli (2 acres), and Raut Darga (9 acres). They planted the rootstock in January 2025 and grafted Aura-36 cuttings from Nashik in September. The first harvest from these farms is expected to hit the market in February 2027.

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Special features of Aura-36 variety

This grape has an attractive brown colour and is very tasty. It can be grown even in temperatures up to 48 degrees Celsius and guarantees 100% flowering. The grapes grow to a good size and have a great colour naturally. A big advantage is that the fruit doesn't split if it rains during harvest. Unlike other grapes, it doesn't need any chemicals to increase its size.

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How is it profitable for farmers?

Farmers can plant this variety just like other grapes, with a 10-foot gap between rows and a 5-foot gap between plants. The cost per acre is about ₹7-8 lakh, slightly more than the ₹6-7 lakh for other varieties. The yield is similar, at 12 to 15 tonnes per acre. But the real difference is in the price. While other grapes sell for ₹40-60 per kg, Aura-36 is already selling for ₹150-160 per kg in Sangli and Tasgaon, from where it is exported to European countries.

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I have given a handful of water to this land: MB Patil

"As a devoted follower of Siddheshwar Shri, I have fulfilled his words by providing water to this land as the irrigation minister. Our farmers have now delivered by growing grapes from California. We dedicate this success to our revered deity, Siddheshwar Swamiji. All farmers can grow this and make a good profit. The BLDE institution is also taking several steps to support farmers and promote dairy farming in the district." - M.B. Patil, Guardian Minister

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Permission to grow in the state was granted in 2024

"After my BSc in Horticulture, I started growing grapes with my father. But we always faced some problem or the other with local varieties. To solve this, I started researching and visited Sahyadri Farm in Nashik. I saw they were experimentally growing Aura-36 since 2019. After we got permission to grow it in Karnataka in 2024, we brought it here." - Sandeep Patil, Grape Farmer.