With Love For India: Rita Tage, Entrepreneur & Founder Of Naara Aaba
With Love For India
A winemaker who works with kiwi farmers in her region. A communications specialist who is creating empowering, feminist rag dolls. An adventure tour specialist who believes in local experiences. An entrepreneur who envisioned and launched an app to help everyone learn Indian languages. Another who brings traditional Maharashtrian fare to dining tables across the world. Our country is replete with visionaries who are working towards empowering local communities and artisans while educating the world about their skills and crafts. Made in India, for the world. In this special issue, we applaud these women who are putting India on the world map…
“For me, Make in India is making a product that matches global standards”
Rita Tage
Entrepreneur & Founder of Naara Aaba
Her bio reads: “On a mission to develop a range of world class premium wines made from locally sourced organic fruits, and put Northeast India on the map of wine tourism; driven by a strong vision towards establishing a fully scaled thriving community of farmers, skilled youths, and women in the region.” And, boy, is she going in the right direction!
Inspired by the hardworking farmers who were being forced to discard excess produce in her beloved Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, Rita Tage decided to dive into an unexplored industry in India – making fruit wine. She founded the Naara Aaba kiwi winery in her hometown, Hong village in Ziro Valley.
The USP of Naraa Aaba is the organic fruit it sources straight from the farmers; the unique notes it brings to the wine are appreciated by Indians and foreigners alike. With the winery, Rita has not only contributed towards providing a sustainable market for the kiwi farmers, but has also boosted employment opportunities for local women and youth. Rita and her staff also welcome about 300 to 400 domestic and foreign visitors every month, creating a scope for wine tourism in the region.
Rita’s commitment to supporting her community with her entrepreneurial efforts earned her the ‘Women Transforming India’ award from NITI Ayog in collaboration with the United Nations in 2018. Recipient of the Nari Shakti Puraskar 2021 from the Ministry of Women & Child Development, the dynamic entrepreneur is all set to take on the on-ground challenges while facing cut-throat competition in the alco-beverage industry in India.
Excerpts from an interview:
“For me, Make in India is being self-aware about making a product that matches global standards and then expanding it across the world while using local resources available in a place. Today, many investors are willing to invest in women-owned businesses in emerging markets, and this will bear fruit in the coming days with collective efforts from all stakeholders, especially government authorities, who will be key factors in facilitating the work.
“The privilege of being an ambassador of Indian-made wines comes with its responsibilities. I am a passionate, self-motivated woman. My work is an expression of my vision towards achieving the goals I have set myself. I am always thankful for all the love and encouragement I have received.
“To aspiring women entrepreneurs, I say, ‘Believe in your dreams, come out of your comfort zones and know that the world needs us.’”
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