On Tuesday, Chief Minister Zoramthanga announced plans to modernise grape wineries and increase the grape wine industry.
“We will take measures by making good projects and even approach the Delhi government to upgrade the existing wineries and expand the grape wine market,” the chief minister said during a visit to a winery in Tlangsam village, Champhai district, east Mizoram.
During an interview with leaders of the grape growers’ group, Zoramthanga stated that grape wines are now being created lawfully after the government recently announced the grape wine laws with the permission of various parties in the state.
He stated that the government is considering setting a price or rate for grape wine.
He stated that the current MNF government waived a loan of about Rs. 80 lakh owed by Champhai Grape Growers’ Society in November 2020. (CGGS).
In terms of Champhai’s benefits, Zoramthanga stated that the eastern area has the potential for significant production of fruits and crops other than grapes due to its favourable environment.
Apart from rice, Mizoram has a high potential for producing fruits, vegetables, and other orchid species due to its extensive forest regions, adequate rainfall, and environment, he added.
On September 7, the state government notified the grape wine rules, which authorised the manufacture, sale, and export of grape wines made from locally cultivated grapes.
The processing, sale, or export of grape wine was previously outlawed under the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act, which went into effect in the state in May 2019 except in three Autonomous District Council (ADC) regions in the state’s south.
The grape wine regulations were enacted in response to the protests and public outcry sparked by the confiscation of large volumes of bottled grape wines from Aizawl shops in May.