SHILLONG, AUG 23: Wine makers of the state under the banner of Meghalaya Association of Wine Makers (MAWM) have asked the state government to legalise fruit wine making in the state. The MAWM has written a letter to the state excise minister Zenith Sangma requesting him initiate the process of legalizing wine making in Meghalaya.
MAWM president Michael Syiem said that legalizing fruit wine making will help the fruit wine makers in more than one way. The group said that it will also help the government to standardize and have quality control over the products.
The letter also said that if fruit based wine making is legalise it can become the fastest growing cottage industry in Meghalaya that will benefit fruit growers and provide them gainful employment.
The MAWM has for the past ten years been organizing Shillong Wine Festival to give a platform to home wine makers to exhibit their products before the world.
Realizing the potential of Meghalaya in terms of fruit wine making, the Ministry of Food Processing Industry few years ago had organized a seminar in the state on its commercialization.
Syiem also pointed out that Mizoram which is a dry state, had legalized the making of wines made from grapes in 2007. Seeing the huge benefits enjoyed by the grape growers of the state, he said, “The Mizoram Assembly unanimously passed the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition (amendment) Bill 2011 to allow for wine making from other fruits.- By Our Reporter
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