State level pineapple festival kicks off with great fanfare
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 10 2013:
The 6th State Level Pineapple Festival cum Youth Festival-2013 organized by Development Organization Andro Kendra under the sponsorship of Northeast Himalaya commenced from today at Thambalnu Market Complex, Poirou Pat under Andro Assembly Constituency.
The inaugural function was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam as Chief Guest and Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam as President, while MLA of Andro Constituency Th Shyamkumar and his wife Babita attended as Guests of Honour.
Altogether 168 stalls are taking part in the pineapple festival, which would go on for five days.
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam inaugurated the festival by cutting the inaugural ribbon.
Speaking on the occasion, Gaikhangam expressed his desire for organizing the state level pineapple festival jointly, instead of holding separate festivals at different places.
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He said that people can learn so many lessons from pineapple.
They can be successful in their life if they tend to withstand all hardships and sufferings like the pineapple. Deputy Chief Minister lauded the initiative of Development Association Andro Kendra for organizing the pineapple festival and youth festival.
Earlier, delivering the key-note address, Secretary of Development Organization Andro Kendra K Abungcha stated that the pineapple festival is being organized annually with support from patrons like MLA Th Shyamkumar and officials of various Government Departments.
The Organization aims to promote work culture among youths by encouraging them to cultivate pineapples in the barren hill areas.
The festival is a platform for the pineapple growers of the State to market their products on a large scale and develop socioeconomic condition of the people in the State, he noted.
Abungcha further highlighted that there were only 130 stalls and 2000 bottles of pineapple juice were produced in last year's festival, but this time the number of stalls has been increased to 168 along with production of 3504 bottles of pineapple juice.
The festival would continue till July 14 .