Sustainable Development Research Centre (SDRC), Chumoukedima organized four-day training-cum-exposure visit to the lush Kiwi orchards and Naara-Aaba winery in Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh from August 17 to 20.
The exposure trip was led by chairman, SDRC Dr Mechüselie Kehie, and was conducted as part of the project “Establishment of Kiwi Orchard with Elite Planting Materials in the North East India (2022-23)” funded by NERCoRMS-NEC, Shillong, M/DoNER, government of India.
A press release by SRDC chairman informed that, the visit was to provide a unique opportunity to learn about the scientific commercial Kiwi cultivation and the wine production process for the Kiwi farmers from Phek district.
The visit commenced with a guided tour to Naara-Aaba winery, where the team was received by Tage Rita, founder of Naara-Aaba winery, and the visiting team were briefed on the art of wine production, from harvesting to fermentation, aging, bottling, and marketing.
The team also visited the Kiwi orchards where chairman and secretary, of Kiwi Grower Co-operative Society Ltd. Ziro Taro Tatang and Mihin Tayu, introduced them to the modern techniques of commercial Kiwi cultivation, including Kiwi varieties, land preparation, nursery preparation, plantation, manuring, pruning, pest management, harvesting, grading, and marketing. Altogether nine farmers and three officials undertook the trip.