KASARGOD: Some wines may taste better with age. A 22-year wait for clearance to sell one will, however, leave a bad taste in the mouth.
Still, Sebastine P Augustine, an 83-year-old from Palamattam in Kasaragod’s Bheemanady, has not lost hope. Hope that he would be able to market his patented wine, which he developed from tender coconuts and named Coco Vino, through Bevco soon.
Originally from Kottayam, Sebastine’s family came to Kasaragod in 1958. After studies, he joined the revenue department in 1965 and retired as deputy tahsildar from Hosdurg taluk in 1998. He returned to farming full time and started working with INFARM (Indian Farmers Movement) as its district president, where, in various events, he learned how to make wine from fruits. However, his tender coconut wine has its own story.
As a coconut farmer, he would deliver tender coconuts to various localities, including Cherupuzha in Kannur. In 2003, the crop got infected with mandari (Eriophyid mite) and production fell. Since there were no takers, coconuts got accumulated in his farm. That’s when the idea hit him.
“After some trial and error, I succeeded,” says Augustine. He added tender coconut water, pulp (kernel) and a portion of fruits with peptides to aid fermentation. Jubilant, Sebastine started applying for patents. In 2004, he presented his findings in Indian Horticulture Congress, which proposed that large-scale production would benefit coconut farmers. The same year, during his trip to the US for an event, he met a Malayali diaspora willing to invest Rs 20 crore in the project.
However, upon returning, his challenges began. “I found there was no policy for small farm-based wineries or breweries,” said Sebastine, who got both Indian and international patents for his product in 2007.
Govt should allow wine tourism, says Sebastine
Starting from getting a policy readied for such farm-based wineries/breweries, he started knocking at government offices and obtained licence, including from the excise department to market the product via Bevco.
“The last hurdle was the label. It got rejected. I am working on it,” said Sebastine.
Supported by his wife Mary Kutty and children Sanju and Manju Sebastine, he persevered, spending a fortune on setting up his River Island Fruit Winery at his farm and on patents and licenses.
Between his invention and licenses, 22 years have passed. “This is a good product and I am optimistic it would hit the shelves,” said Sebastine. However, its final cost is a concern.
“With excise duty and tax, the price goes up to `1,600 to 1,800, though the product can be sold at `600 or 700 per bottle. I wonder if a customer would shell out so much money for tender coconut wine,” he said. He also has a request for the government – to allow permit wine tourism.
“We need permission to offer wine to visitors coming to the winery. It is a popular tourism attraction in European countries,” said Sebastine, who has won best farmer awards from various forums as well as the government.
