Hnahlan to become the largest grape producing village in India

Aizawl, May 14 (UNI) Hnahlan village, near the Indo-Myanmar border, noted for its extensive grape cultivation, is now striving to become the largest grape producing village in India.

Around 80 per cent of the villagers were engaged in grape-cultivation, after foresaking the primitive shifting cultivation 10 years ago and were now reaping the 'fruits of their labour', sources said.

The enthusiasm of the grape farmers had been fueled by the amendment of the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition (MLTP) Act. The Act had earlier prevented them from large-scale commercialisation of their products and wine-making from grapes.

The green foliages and fruits of the grape gardens would be ready for harvest by the later part of July, the sources added.

A team of experts from the Centre's Horticulture Mission, who visited Hnahlan village recently, were convinced that, with its suitable climate and soil conditions, the region had the capability for double-cropping of grapes.

Generally, one quintal of grape juice was worth as much as Rs 15,000 according to the present rate of grape juice, official sources informed.

They added that grape cultivation was a better alternative to the toilsome, primitive, but hard-to-part-with shifting cultivation.

Unlike all other commercial crops in Mizoram, grape cultivation in Hnahlan was not initiated by the state government, but by a certain farmer with a vision.

About 15 years ago, farmer Zama had started grape cultivation, which was then unknown to the villagers.

''People used to laugh at me. They whispered behind my back that I was a fool. But just five years later, most of the farmers in my village followed my footsteps,'' Mr Zama recollected.

Grape-cultivation had brought about a sea change in the socio-economic lives of the villagers. Not even a single youth was now seen loitering on the streets during the working hours as everyone was assiduously engaged in the farms.

The production of grapes also boosted the annual income and enhanced the standard of living of the villagers. Now televisions, computers, vehicles and other luxurious goods were common in most of the houses.

''The average annual income of a grape-growing family has jumped up to Rs 1,30,000. In this way, it will not be long before we become the most flourishing village in Mizoram,'' claimed Vanlalhruaia, a grape-farmer.

Owing to the fact that wine-making grapes in India were largely imported, Hnahlan had high hopes of becoming the largest raw material producer for wineries across the country.

However, Hnahlan grapes were not without foes. Pests (locally referred to as Keltelaimawm) constantly ransacked the grapes. To combat this menace, the Horticulture department had been providing them with adequate pesticides and GI wires.

Another big problem the grape-growers were facing was the lack of proper equipment for fermentation of grapes. Grape juices were processed in Sintex plastic barrels, the most unhygeinic way of fermentation. With the amendment of the MLTP Act, the state government had promised to provide proper equipment for fermentation. As a result, the neighbouring villages had also adopted grape cultivation.

UNI