Yogi govt mulls over wine producing units

Lucknow: In order to promote manufacture of wine in Uttar Pradesh (UP), the state government is mulling a proposal to set up a wine industry.

Taking a cue from the Nashik model of wine manufacturing, senior officials of the excise department recently met the wine manufacturers association to discuss ways of establishing a wine industry in UP.

Nashik in Maharashtra has emerged as the centre of Indian wine production. UP now boasts of surplus produce of sub-tropical fruits which are now increasingly being used in wine making.The state, which has a policy for wine manufacturing, does not have a single unit so far.

According to additional chief secretary, excise, Sanjay Bhoosreddy, "several sub-tropical fruits like mango, jamun, jackfruit, guava, grapes, litchi, amla and papaya are grown in UP and the huge quantities produced are not even fully utilised. A lot of the produce gets wasted due to lack of proper storage facilities for fruits."

Bhoosreddy added that, "If wineries are set up here, then the industry will get a boost through incentives, farmers will get the right price for their produce and the state will earn revenue through sale of wine. All the fruits will also be utilised."