Pineapple fest debuts at Thayong village
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 22 2011:
Under the joint aegis of Lamlai Kendra Development Association, Self Help Group (DSSS) and youths of Thayong village, a day-long Pineapple festival was organised for the first time at Thayong village today.
In all 15 groups of Pineapple growers including 12 Self Help Groups participated in the festival.
Prizes were also distributed among the best groups.
KEVAM group won the first prize, Rose group won the second prize while Parhui group won the 3rd prize.
Earlier, delivering the key note address of the festival, Lecturer in Biramangol College Mary Leivon informed that 'Q' variety of Pineapple started growing in Thayong village since 1990 .
Of the 725 strong population of Thayong, 95 percent of the people are involved in cultivation of Pineapple and the annual production is around 3000 metric tonne.
Unfortunately, none of the MLAs, Ministers or other political workers who have come and gone in Lamlai Assembly Constituency have ever shown any appreciation of the efforts of the Pineapple growers in Thayong village.
|
But Lamlai Kendra Development Committee has come forward to help the Pineapple growers in giving guidance and organising the festival, Mary Leivon said, while expressing gratitude to the Committee.
Speaking as chief guest of the function, MLA of Konthoujam A/C K Sarat Singh alleged that the Government has been taking over cultivation land and constructing offices, schools and colleges, thus reducing the available cultivation land in Manipur.
This has led to a situation where we have to depend on others for everything.
He asserted that Manipur is a fertile land which can produce food enough to feed its 27 lakh people.
The president of Lamlai Kendra Development Committee Mongjam Poireihanba Meitei, who presided over the function, pointed out that there is the problem of marketing the Pineapple grown in Thayong village and lack of facilities for cold storage and juice extraction machines led to wastage of the products.
He also announced that the Pineapple festival at Thayong would be made an annual event on Krishna Janmasthami every year.