SHILLONG: A day after the government legalised winemaking by approving a proposal to formulate rules on manufacture and sale of homemade fruit wines, the winemakers in Meghalaya have asked the former to ensure that big wine companies stay away from the state.
Albeit Michael Syiem, who has followed up the matter of legalising fruit winemaking for over 18 years, has welcomed government’s move yet he wants the latter to keep the winemaking confined to cottage industry. “We are happy that after 18 long years, government has legalised the fruit wine making,” he said, adding that he and other vintners will soon meet to confer about the matter.
Syiem, however, said the government is allowing big companies to come to the state though they have made it clear to the government that they want winemaking to be confined to a cottage industry.
He said that employment of people is a major concern for them and once big companies come in, it would be difficult for the local winemakers to compete with the big companies. “We are hesitant for big wine companies to come in here,” he said.