This Christmas could be devoid of home-made wine for the people of Kerala as the ongoing agitation over the Mullaiperiyar issue has hit the supply of grapes to the neighbouring state from Tamil Nadu.

More than 1.2 lakh kilograms of grapes sent on a daily basis to Kerala from Cumbum and Coimbatore, have been stopped over the last few weeks following the dam row, said Mr V. Ramesh, one of the directors of grape growers association in Coimbatore.

The demand for grapes usually peaks in December when Keralites use it to make home-made wine, an integral part of Christmas celebrations. Almost 50 per cent of the Christians in Kerala consume home-made wine prepared with grapes sourced from Tamil Nadu during that festive day, Mr Ramesh added.

Coimbatore is the largest producer of grapes, next only to Cumbum, harvesting more than 50,000 kg per day, of which, over 20,000 kg goes to Kerala.

Muscat grapes, most sought after for producing wines, is grown in over 1,000 acres in Thondamuthur block and Periyanaickenpalayam regions of Coimbatore, said former president of grape growers association in Coimbatore A. Velmylsamy.

“Being perishable, grapes have gone waste due to supply stagnation. At least 5,000 kg of grapes perish daily in Coimbatore alone, while the amount is expected to be very high in Cumbum. The wholesale prices of grapes have also dipped considerably,” he said.

Even though grape owners used to reap rich profits, they are now hit hard by labour shortage, increase in production costs and poor procurement price. Vineyard owners have demanded the government brand wine as a non-alcoholic beverage to bail them out.