Shillong, Sep 14: Putting an end to a long demand after legalising wine making, Meghalaya Chief Sangma Conrad Sangma has opened a new way for domestic wine-makers by inaugurating the North East Fruit Wine Incubation Centre at the IHM campus in Mawdiangdiang, Shillong, on Thursday.
The centre was inaugurated in the presence of Agriculture Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla.
While speaking at the inaugural function, CM said that the launch of fruit wine incubation links tourism and agriculture and will go a long way in promoting entrepreneurs and job creation.
“We were convinced that there has to be a proper system, a proper policy, a proper framework, a proper support structure, a proper ecosystem that is going to allow the local fruit winemakers to really flourish in our state, which would then unlock the potentials that are there for our farmers”, he said.
Highlighting the importance of the incubation centre, CM said that it will make a huge positive difference in people’s lives.
Taking to X, CM wrote, “Inaugurated the North East Fruit Wine Incubation Center at the campus of @ihmshillong which is a 1st of its kind in the North East. Wine making has been a tradition of the tribes of our State and through this, existing local wine makers and entrepreneurs can get the technical support in wine making, packaging & marketing. This envisions to create a shift from wine made from grapes as we explore our strength in fruit wines, focusing on local fruits and move towards our goal to make Meghalaya the Fruit Wine Capital of India.”
“So glad to see quality packaging of the local wines which is a great change from the recent years. This wonderful initiative will help farmers and wine makers of the region to get maximum profit from their produce and products & encourage entrepreneurship among the youth. This initiative which is a collaboration between the Meghalaya Farmers Welfare Commission and IHM, Shillong will be a great opportunity for entrepreneurs and wine makers of Meghalaya and the North East.”
So glad to see quality packaging of the local wines which is a great change from the recent years. This wonderful initiative will help farmers and wine makers of the region to get maximum profit from their produce and products & encourage entrepreneurship among the youth.
This… pic.twitter.com/mq5602IRsP
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) September 14, 2023
This comes almost three years after the state government realised the potentialities of wine making as it can promote horticulture, tourism, and generate revenue for the state.
It must be noted that Captain Harold Douglas Hunt established a winery in Mawphlang back in 1947 after obtaining a licence from the then Governor of Assam, Sir Akbar Hydari.
The winery, which produced the famous Mawphlang Cherry Wine and Cherry Brandy from the fruits of Sohiong (Prunus nepalensis), gained popularity across the country.
In 2004, the Shillong Wine Festivals was initiated by Mr. Michael Syiem, president of the Meghalaya Association of Wine Makers. The fruit wine making has also grabbed tourists in the region. The annual Wine Festivals served as a platform for local winemakers to showcase local homemade wines made from indigenous fruits and cemented Meghalaya’s reputation as the home of Fruit Wines in the North-East.
In 2019, Meghalaya were showcased alongside wines from different parts of the country in the first B2B Food Exhibition – The Northeast Food Show and it was then when Meghalaya’s Fruit Wines as an enterprise was realised.
In September 2020, the Government of Meghalaya amended the Meghalaya Excise Rules (Assam Excise Rules 1945) to legalise the production and sale of homemade wines under licence and provide a legal avenue for local winemakers to carry out wine making as a commercial venture.
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