Pineapple and summer fruits festival at Sangaithel

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, June 19, 2019: A 4-day ‘Festival of Pineapple and Summer Fruits’  was kicked off today at Sangaithel Park, Imphal West.

The festival aims to promote pineapple and fruit farming in the surrounding areas of Sangaithel park besides conserving the environment.

Horticulture and soil conservation minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar assured to set up a cold storage at Sangaithel area to benefit the pineapple and fruit farmers.

He said he will take up the matter in the Cabinet to organise pineapple festival at one time with more funding.

He appealed the people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and consume organic seasonal fruits grown in the state rather than consuming exported products.

Regarding market the minister said Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) under the aegis of horticulture and soil conservation department was able to airlift home grown pineapples to New Delhi, apart from selling home grown black aromatic rice (chakhao) and ginger to other states.

He appealed to the farmers of the area to register themselves with the department to timely avail the benefits of various schemes.

During the festival, the pineapple grown in the surrounding villages of Sangaithel Park like Sangaithel village, Longa Koireng, Thangjing Chiru, Khoken among others will be sold and promoted. The area has a total population of 1,232 people out of which 130 people are engaged in pineapple farming producing around 4,510 tonnes.

Summer fruits including pineapples grown in the area will be displayed for sale at 17 stalls at the Sangaithel Park apart from various programmes during the festival.

The festival is jointly organised by the district administration, Imphal West and Sangaithel Park Management Committee in collaboration with ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Manipur Centre; Central Agricultural University (CAU); departments of Horticulture and Soil Conservation; Planning; Agriculture and Commerce and Industries.