Aizawl, Nov. 28: The five-year-old grape industry in Mizoram yesterday witnessed its first-ever grand festival at Hnahlan village, about 70 km from Champhai.

The grape festival held at the village, which is hailed as Mizoram?s ?international trade capital,? also honoured three pioneers in grape farming in the state, including Thanzama.

The village celebrated the festival with wine made from original Hnahlan grapes. More than 300 guests from all corners of the state and a few from Bangalore attended the event.

State chief secretary Haukhum Hauzel stressed the need to exploit local resources such as grape products. He said the government was studying the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition (MLTP) Act for necessary amendments in favour of wines produced from grapes grown in Hnahlan village.

According to experts, the grapes grown in Mizoram are of the Bangalore Blue variety which is best-suited for wine making. As of now, Mizoram has nearly 300 families, mainly in the Hnahlan area, who have left jhum cultivation for vineyards.

Hnahlan village, which has become famous for its grapes, has nearly 400 acres under vineyards. Each acre produces grapes worth Rs 1.5 lakh every year.

?Grape wine can be a handsome source of income for the economically-backward state of Mizoram,? excise minister Lalzama had said earlier, adding that the MLTP Act could be amended in favour of grape wine manufacturing.

Chief minister Zoramthanga had also earlier mentioned that the law would be amended so that the grape wine production could boost the state?s economy.

The Horticulture Technology Mission initiated by the ministry of agriculture has helped the grape growers of Hnahlan with more than Rs 4 crore in the past five years.