§1What this business is
Uniform, fully ripe grapes are sorted, washed in a potassium permanganate and ethyl oleate solution, dipped in a dipping-oil solution, rinsed, spread on trays and dried in an electric drier, then sulphur-fumigated and packed. Grapes are seasonal, so drying is done in the harvest months.
Capacity: Capacity of 900 (unit not printed); cost of production ₹37.37 L; projected sales ₹45.00 L at full capacity.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A grape grower or FPO in a grape belt.
Who it is not for
Places with no grape farming nearby.
Advantages
- Popular dry fruit used in homes, sweets and bakeries
- Simple equipment (₹3.50 lakh)
- Adds value to surplus grapes
- Keeps for months when packed well
Drawbacks
- Grapes are seasonal and grown in few regions
- Raw material is most of the cost
- Sulphur residues must stay within limits
- Price set by large raisin markets
Skills you need
- Grape grading and dipping
- Drying and fumigation control
- Grading raisins by colour and size
- Selling to traders
Why difficulty 2/5: Simple drying process tied to the grape season.
§3Market
Who buys
- Dry-fruit traders and wholesalers
- Sweet makers and bakeries
- Households
How it sells
- Mandi and dry-fruit markets
- Packed retail under own brand
Good to know
- The profile says golden varieties of grapes are used.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| SS/aluminium-top working table, 3' × 2.5' × 6' | 2 | — |
| Electric drier with trays | 1 set | — |
| Weighing balance (platform and table models) | 1 each | — |
| Exhaust fans | 2 | — |
| Water, dipping and washing tanks | 4 | — |
| Sulphur fumigation chamber | 1 | ₹3,50,000 for all equipment |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Kismis/Bedana Manufacturing (PMEGP)
- Fresh grapes (uniform, fully ripe)raw material ₹32.00 L a year in the profile
- Potassium permanganate, ethyl oleate (dipping oil) and sulphurfor washing, dipping and fumigation
- Labels and packing material₹50,000 a year
From: KVIC Project Profile — Kismis/Bedana Manufacturing (PMEGP)
§5Licences & registration
- FSSAI licence or registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- PMFMECentralUnclear35% subsidy, up to ₹10 lakh
- AIFCentralUnclear3% interest subvention, up to ₹2 crore
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
KVIC model profile for PMEGP; PMFME and AIF (primary processing) fit; ₹13.50 L is within MUDRA.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Work shed (3,000 sq ft) ₹6.00 L + equipment ₹3.50 L + working capital ₹4.00 L = ₹13.50 L. Land owned.
Working capital: Working capital ₹4.00 L; the profile works out ₹6.23 L per cycle. Raw material is ₹32.00 L a year.
Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: APEDA
- Raisins are an APEDA-scheduled product.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Rain during drying
- Grape price swings
- Residue rejections
- Storage pests
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working kishmish (raisin) making unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (FSSAI licence or registration, Udyam registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Kishmish (Raisin) Making?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.