Itanagar: Tage Rita Takhe, the pioneering force behind India’s first kiwi wine label Naara Aaba, has been selected for the prestigious Vital Voices Global Fellowship 2025, an international leadership programme co-founded by Hillary Clinton to uplift and empower women changemakers across the globe.
Rita, a proud native of Hong village and a member of the Apatani tribe, is one of just 51 women from 39 countries chosen this year under the VV Venture pillar, which supports high-impact women social entrepreneurs. She joins Telangana cabinet minister Danasari Seethakka and Project Baala co-founder Aradhana Rai Gupta in representing India on the global stage.
Currently undergoing rigorous virtual training, Takhe will participate in an in-person convening in the Netherlands this November, marking the culmination of a 10-month fellowship designed to provide advanced leadership coaching, global networking, and cross-sector collaboration tools to address systemic challenges.
Founded in 1997 by former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the late Madeleine Albright, Vital Voices was born out of a commitment to prioritize women’s rights in foreign policy following the 1995 UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Since then, the Washington-based non-profit has supported over 47,000 women leaders across 188 countries.
“We’re honoured to support these visionary changemakers as they lead systemic change on a global scale,” said Alyse Nelson, President and CEO of Vital Voices.
From Kiwi Waste to Wine Success
Armed with a degree in Agricultural Engineering from NERIST, Rita turned a regional challenge—the frequent wastage of kiwi fruit—into an entrepreneurial opportunity. In 2017, she launched Naara Aaba, named in memory of her late father-in-law, fondly referred to as “Father of the Place” in the Apatani language.
Starting with a modest capacity of 20,000 litres, her winery in Ziro Valley now produces 60,000 litres annually, crafting wines from kiwi, wild apple, peach, and other fruits. Sourcing directly from over 300 local farmers, the venture has become a vital income source and employment generator for dozens of local youth and women, especially school dropouts.
Run under her company, Lambu Subu Food & Beverages, Takhe’s venture not only celebrates indigenous produce but also fosters sustainable rural development through skill-building and entrepreneurship.
Honours and Global Footprint
Rita’s impactful work has been recognised nationally and internationally. She was conferred the Nari Shakti Puraskar by the President of India in 2022 and the Women Transforming India Award by NITI Aayog and the UN in 2018. Her wines have graced international platforms in Greece and Shanghai, and she holds an APEDA license for global exports.
In 2022, Rita was also selected for the Fortune Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership by the U.S. Department of State, where she was mentored by top executives from Fortune 500 companies.
The Road Ahead
Looking forward, Takhe envisions transforming Naara Aaba into a wine tourism destination and launching a wine academy to train local youth—particularly women—in winemaking, hospitality, and entrepreneurship.
With her inclusion in the Vital Voices Global Fellowship, she joins a dynamic alumni network that includes Nobel laureates, prime ministers, and global innovators.
As Rita Takhe rises on the international stage, her journey remains rooted in the rich soil of Arunachal Pradesh—nurtured by tradition, driven by innovation and fuelled by an unyielding commitment to empower others.
Also read: Saving Arunachal’s rivers, one bag of trash at a time
