Wine manufacturing unit planned in Theni

Madurai: Theni district administration has sent a proposal to the Government to start a wine manufacturing unit in the district to help grape growers add value to their produce.

According to the District Collector, Mr Har Sahay Meena, grape is cultivated at present in 1,137 hectares in the district, yielding approximately an annual production of 4.30 lakh tonnes.

The climate and soil conditions are favourable to get four to five yields in a two-year period.

Efforts are on to expand the area of production with application of advanced technologies. Grape growers are to be taken to production centres in the North to get hands on training and learn the latest technologies with reference to production and packing methods, he said, while addressing recently a seminar on grape cultivation held at Surulipatti in the district.