Grapes, a source of revenue for Mizoram?

Sweet grapes found in abundance in the northeastern state of Mizoram can be a great source of revenue for the state.

Sweet grapes found in abundance in the northeastern state of Mizoram can be a great source of revenue for the state, if measures are taken to set up proper wine producing units in the state to utilize the fruit variety in the right way, says officials from 'Shaw Wallace'.

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'Shaw Wallace' is one of India's leading producers of wine who visited the state's Hnahlan region recently.

The officials said that the grape varieties produced in the area are the best in quality in the country and have the potential to turn the place as the Bordeaux Province of France, known worldwide for its grapes, used for commercial wine manufacturing.

J Mohan Rao, consultant in Shaw Wallace's wine and spirit division, who was a part of the visiting team said, "grapes produced in Hnahlan are akin to Bangalore Blue variety and India is short of it. Mizoram can be a leading producer of such high quality grapes if necessary infrastructures are provided to the farmers".

Also, the farmers of Hnahlan and nearby villages follow the traditional method of step terracing cultivation, which is the appropriate method of farming to produce good quality grapes in large numbers.

Such non-irrigation form of cultivation is also practiced in grape producing areas of France and Germany, which makes the fruit more desirable.

Meanwhile, the farmers of the state have a totally different story to tell. "Five years ago, the government officials encouraged us to grow more grapes and promised to provide markets. But nothing has been done so far," says Zuiliana, a farmer in Hnahlan region.

Now, most of the farmers are forced to make brews and sell it to the black markets in Aizawl and Champai. "Champai, being a business hub bordering Myanmar, has become a lucrative market for such brew, "reveals Renedy Sangliana, another farmer. Approximately 1.5 lakh quintals of grapes were harvested alone in Hnahlan last year.

According to the farmers, the Total Prohibition Act imposed by the state government since 1997 is a stumbling block to market their products.

The remote location of the state bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh and lack of facilities in storing and packaging have also been obstacles for the grape producers to market their products even in other parts of the northeast region as the item is highly perishable.

The Mizo National Front government recently has taken up plans to boost the harvest of grape by supplying necessary inputs to the farmers.

"The state horticulture department has decided to start grape harvesting during autumn for not only to increase the quantity but also to make it more sweeter," mentions the department director, S Rosanglura.