4th Manipur Kiwifruit Festival begins in Senapati
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 06 2022:
The 4th Manipur Kiwifruit Festival-2022, which is being organised by Senapati Producers Organisation of Organic Kiwi Fruit (SPOOKF) kicked off on Tuesday at Oinam hill village in Senapati district.
Horticulture & soil conservation minister Letpao Haokip, who attended opening ceremony of the festival as chief guest, said that horticulture & soil conservation department will shoulder full responsibility in converting unused lands in the hills as productive area to enhance economy.
He said that 10-20 percent of paddy fields in the hills are now being utilised for production of crops after harvesting paddy and the department has target to increase productive area in the hills.
He also expressed happiness over successful plantation of exotic Kiwi fruit in different parts of Senapati district.
According to minister Letpao, around 3,100 farmers of Senapati district are taking up organic turmeric plantation in 1150 hectares, ginger in 125 hectares, king chilli (U-Morok) 325 hectares, Kiwi in 509 hectares and maize in 500 hectares under Mani-fiur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA).
These registered farmers have been provided planting materials, collection & aggregation centre, vehicles for transportation and micro processing units, he said, adding that there is high demand of horticulture products of Manipur in foreign countries.
He also said that the department has plan for production of high valued crops in hill areas of the state.
Regarding the festival, additional director (horticul ture) K Devdutta Sharma said that Kiwi was introduced as an identified crop and planted in different areas of Senapati district from 2016.Kiwi plantation is now not only suited to the state but also successful and become an exported item.
He said that a total of 11 metric tonnes of Kiwi produced in the state had been exported this year and planning to export 10 metric tonnes more.
The department is planning to increase Kiwi plantation area in hill districts of the state while farmers are given financial assistance, planting materials, marketing and packaging assistance under different schemes/projects.
According to K Devdutta Sharma, the department is planning to set up a processing unit at Nilakuthi so that Kiwi fruits could be processed in the state and exported.
In view of its unique taste as well as high nutritive and medicinal value of Kiwi fruits grown in the state, demand of the fruit is increasing, he said.
Around 60 Kiwi farmers from different parts of Senapati district are taking part in the two-day festival being held with the help of Mission Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), MOMA, department of horticulture & soil conservation and IBADA under North Eastern Council.
The opening ceremony of the festival was also attended by Kumbi MLA S Premchandra, Karong MLA J Kumo Sha, BJP Manipur Pradesh vice president RU Jonathan Tao, director (horticulture) Honey Chara and representative of ICAR, IBADA.