Ukhrul: Catherine Soyamphi AS, a 28-year-old entrepreneur from Manipur’s Ukhrul district, recently received a Certificate of Appreciation from the District Administration in recognition of her exemplary role in empowering women in the state. She received the award from the Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul, Asish Das, at the International Women’s Day celebration in 2025.
The event, which marked the culmination of the 10-year celebration of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme, was organized by the District Administration of Ukhrul in collaboration with the ICDS Cell, One Stop Centre, Ukhrul District, and the District Hub for Empowerment of Women, Ukhrul, at DRDA Hall, Mini-Secretariat Complex, Ukhrul District headquarters.
Speaking on the occasion, Ukhrul DC Asish Das stated, “I firmly believe that women’s empowerment is essential to building a more equitable, just, and prosperous society. Women’s empowerment is not just a moral imperative; it is also a strategic necessity. When women are empowered, they become agents of change, driving economic growth, social progress, and cultural transformation. They become leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers, making a positive impact on their families, communities, and the world at large.”
“I am very excited and honored to have received an appreciation from the District Administration. Thank you so much for the opportunity and for supporting Soyam products,” said Soyamphi, the proprietor of Soyam Foods, on the sidelines of the event.
Her Journey as an Entrepreneur
Catherine Soyamphi AS, a resident of Lungshang village, launched Soyam Foods during the COVID-19 pandemic with an initial amount of Rs 5,000, which she secured as a scholarship. Today, with an annual turnover of Rs 25 lakh, Soyamphi now employs at least 12 full-time workers in her agro-processing food business while also providing part-time job opportunities for students.
Initiated by her mother, Angela AS, a food trainer, Soyamphi took Soyam Foods to a higher level, achieving remarkable success in the region’s agro-food processing sector.
Under her brand, Soyam Foods, she has turned the perishable fruits found abundantly in the hill districts into marketable products by creating a variety of food and beverage items.
“There are lots of food products that are being unused and under-utilized. Instead of allowing them to go to waste, we convert all this excess into products, ensuring sustainability, quality, and healthy food products,” said Soyamphi.
At present, Soyam Foods has produced a total of 37 products, including 15 varieties of fermented beverages, popularly known as heritage wine, 12 varieties of pickles, and different types of candies. All these products are purely made from locally grown fruits and vegetables, including wild fruits and herbs.
Her vintage wine products are made from Prunus napaulensis, locally known as theikanthei, wild olive (fashonthei), wild apple, red rhododendron, plum, gooseberry, mango, passion fruit, lemon, and kiwi. Moreover, the candies are also made from different varieties of wild fruits sourced from the hill district.
“We deal with pickles, candies, and heritage wine made from wild fruits collected from the forests. These varieties of wild fruits grow naturally throughout the year, but the majority of them often perish without being utilized,” she explained.
“We are incorporating biotechnology into our production, introducing innovative ideas, and expanding our product range,” she added.
She also mentioned that her brand currently has two outlets in the state, one in Ukhrul town and another in Imphal. However, the demand for Soyam products is high in other cities, particularly in Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, and Shillong, prompting her to explore markets beyond the state. Despite this success, Soyamphi faced significant financial challenges in the initial stages of her business.
Over the years, this young entrepreneur has gained recognition by participating in various events and seminars at both state and national levels, including World Food India 2024 and Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav 2024.
Recently, the Ukhrul entrepreneur was selected for the DST Nidhi EIR Fellowship by the Manipur Technology Innovation Hub for her project ‘Chemical-Free Glue for Housefly Trap’ and was also one of the grand jury winners of the Catalysetech Innovation for Non-Core-Tech Food Processing and Micro Businesses by the Selco Foundation.
Additionally, she has signed an agreement with ICAR-CCRI to avail agribusiness incubation services for citrus-based food entrepreneurship under CitrusHub in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
Future Plans
Speaking about her future plans, the Ukhrul entrepreneur stated, “I am planning to expand my workspace to Imphal because transporting glass bottles for vintage wine from Ukhrul to Imphal is risky due to poor road conditions.”
She emphasized that this expansion would not only help in reducing logistical challenges but would also create more job opportunities for women and students.
Her success story as an entrepreneur serves as a beacon of hope, especially for the youth, amid the state’s ongoing challenges.
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