Mizoram governor inaugurates international convention on impact of global climate on agriculture

Aizawl: Mizoram Governor Lt. Gen (Retd.) M.M. Lakhera, PVSM, AVSM, VSM attended as the Chief Guest and inaugurated the International Convention on "Impact of Global Climate on Agriculture" held on 28th July 2010 at Russian Centre of Science and Culture, New Delhi. This Convention was jointly sponsored by Bharatiya Krishak Samaj and the Russian Centre of Science and Culture and also attended by the Charge de Affair of Russian Federation, a number of Union Ministers, a large number of Parliamentarians and a few chosen farmers from across the country.

Speaking at the function, the Mizoram Governor stated that the build up of greenhouse gases anticipated environmental changes which include enhanced carbon dioxide on crop growth, increase in global temperature, water availability, climate variability, soil fertility as well as its erosion, pests and diseases and sea-level rise. Tropical developing countries are the most vulnerable to these changes, and by 2030s, a 40 cm sea-level rise would affect 55 million people in South Asia, 21 million people in South East Asia, 14 million in Africa and 3 million in the rest of the world, he added.

The Governor emphasized that farm level adjustment is needed to minimise the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture. Introduction of very early or late maturing crop varieties, changing the crop cycles, adjusting the timing of field operations, conserving soil moisture through appropriate tillage methods and water harvesting are the steps to be taken to mitigate the effects of climate change, he said. He also highlighted that genetically modified crops have their own issues- high costs and long term impacts on human health, and that traditional seeds are more preferable and their production can be increased by better means of water harvesting, soil fertility and organic fertilizers.

His Excellency also mentioned that in Mizoram, the focus is on livelihood improvement of the people without destroying the rich biodiversity. The "New Land Use Policy' is an ambitious scheme with challenges which include improvement in the prevalent shifting cultivation and improvement in the existing forest cover, which stands at 88.63% of the geographical area of the State, the highest in India, he said.

READ MORE - Mizoram governor inaugurates international convention on impact of global climate on agriculture

Mizoram’s ‘love potion’ wine to hit market in September

Aizawl, July 20 (IANS) Wine produced from premium quality grapes grown locally in the mountainous northeastern state of Mizoram is all set to hit the market in less then two months, with the state government relaxing strict prohibition laws after 13 years.

“The first lot of wine produced in two local wineries would be available for sale some time in September with the production process already on,” said Horticulture Director Samuel Rosanglura.

Mizoram, bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh and known for its jagged peaks, lofty mountains and dense forests, produces the premium variety of Lubrusca grapes. Wine made from the fruit is said to be of high quality and commercially viable.

The wine with 14 percent alcohol content and filled in specially designed 750 ml bottles will be priced at Rs. 150 under the brand name of Zawlaidi, meaning love potion in the Mizo language.

The wine-making process is being monitored by experts from liquor major Shaw Wallace at the two wineries at Hnahlan and Champhai in the state.

“To make the wine competitive and conform to international standards, experts from Shaw Wallace are already here to train and guide the winemakers,” Vanlalruata Chenkual, managing director of the Grape Growers Society of Mizoram, told IANS.

According to plans, an estimated 100,000 bottles would hit the market this year.

“The wine produced would be sold exclusively in Mizoram and not outside with the bottles having a label that would read ‘Not For Sale Outside Mizoram’,” Chenkual said.

The Mizoram government relaxed stringent prohibition laws enforced in 1997 by allowing up to 16 percent alcohol content in the wine produced in the state.

Some 1,000 farmers in Mizoram grow an estimated 6,000 quintals of grapes annually in small to medium plantations spread over about 3,000 acres.

“Experts say wine made from grapes produced here could easily be marketed in the international markets. But, for now, we will be focusing on the domestic market and then try to hit the global field,” Rosanglura said.

With Mizoram’s climatic condition suitable for growing the high-quality Lubrusca variety of grapes that promise good returns, more and more farmers are setting up vineyards.

Locals make wine for domestic consumption or for sacramental use in churches.

READ MORE - Mizoram’s ‘love potion’ wine to hit market in September

Mizoram seeks extension of census enumeration drive

AIZAWL, July 7 (PTI) - The State government has requested the Centre to extend the census enumeration drive by 15 days in Mizoram to persuade about 1,000 families which have refused to enrol themselves.

The deadline for the completion of census in the State ended on June 30.

"Though we are yet to receive any approval from the Centre, we expect that the Centre would ink its approval in view of the circumstances," an official said.

Majority of these 1,000 families of Christian-dominated Mizoram have refused to include their names in the National Population Register (NPR), taken up along with the census to prepare the Unique Identification number. They were afraid that they would be identified with the Biblical number of the Beast, sources said.

The fear of being identified with the 'number of the beast' stems from the Bible's Revelation chapter 13 Verse 17.

READ MORE - Mizoram seeks extension of census enumeration drive