Editor,
The State Assembly in its previous tenure had for the first time legalised the production of local wine in a move that was seen as a pilot approach to consolidate on this nascent enterprise. In a number of local festivals, entrepreneurs have often been given an opportunity to showcase their products but unfortunately this hasn’t got the right push. The production of local wine is in itself lacking of not having a uniform benchmark on the quality, brand promotion, marketing and more value addition.
Secondly, if more entrepreneurs are supported technically, financially and in terms of market development, this would also have a retro effect on our marginal and small horticulture farmers spread across the State. But we don’t have proper data and information on the number of farmers who are actually engaged in horticulture cultivation which is an avenue for direct and indirect employment as well as income generation.
We need to address the pertinent issues of our farmers first before thinking of upscaling future enterprises as what happened in other states where wine making helps earn huge income for their communities and benefits the State exchequer.
What policy the present State government intends to promote better the local wine units is a matter of interest.
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong
