Kerala to encourage wine and light alcobev production

The Kerala government has developed a strategy to encourage entrepreneurs to the project of producing wine and light alcoholic beverages from fruits and other agricultural items other than grains.

This was discussed during the excise officials' meeting. The project was never actually put into action even a year after the proposal was publicised as no entrepreneurs approached.

The programme attempts to increase the farmers' income and job opportunities. Under this project, to open a winery, an application must be presented to the Excise Commissioner of Kerala and a license fee of Rs. 50000 and bottling license fee of Rs. 5000 will be required. The scrutiny of the application will be done by a Technical Committee headed by the Deputy Excise Commissioner.

The applications need to be recommended by a high-powered committee involving top officials.Kerala's beverages corporation will be empowered to procure and sell these products from the entrepreneurs.