CM flags off shipment of pineapples, distributes machineries
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, July 12 2020: For the third consecutive year, the Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) has started exporting locally grown organic pineapples to different cities through air cargo from today.

Out of the total targeted quantity of 220 MT set for this year, the first air shipment of 1.2 MT was flagged off by Chief Minister N Biren Singh in a simple function held at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport today.

Demand for locally grown organic pineapples has witnessed a steep rise in different cities in the past couple of years due to its unique taste and dedicated efforts from MOMA, the agency which comes under the Department of Horticulture and Social Conservation.

During 2018 and 2019, the agency exported a total of 250 MT of organic pineapples to cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Mumbai etc.

CM flags off shipment of pineapples, distributes machineries

This year as well, it has been able to improve the quantity of export despite the persistent inconveniences due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of around 220 MT of queen variety of pineapples are to be airlifted in different phases to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Ludhiana (Chandigarh), etc with assistance from a local private company called Krooshi-Karma Naturals Pvt Ltd.

These pineapples were grown and produced under the Phase-II of Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North East Region (MOVCDNER).

Speaking at the occasion, N Biren Singh, who also holds the Horticulture and Soil Conservation portfolio, said that farmers need not worry for the market to sell their produces now.

Assuring that the Government would buy all their produces, the Chief Minister informed that a corpus fund of Rs 3 crore has been created for this purpose by the Government.

He observed that Manipur would become a self-sufficient and self-reliant State only when its agriculture and horticulture produces are increased by giving thrust to these sectors.

Mentioning about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popular slogan, 'Vocal for Local', the Chief Minister opined that the State needs to work hard to change and upgrade indigenous and local produces into the items of global standard.

This would serve as a lucrative means for generating income for farmers and people of the State, he said and added that the Government would always extend all possible support and also award incentives to hard working farmers.

Responding to a query regarding price hike, the Chief Minister asked the shopkeepers to sell all the items as per the prices fixed by the Government.

He said that the Government would take action against the erring shopkeepers and traders if they charge exorbitant prices from the people at this time of hardship.

Later, the Chief Minister distributed power tillers, tractors, brush cutters, quality planting materials, etc to different Farmers' Producer Companies (FPCs) in another function organized by the Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation at its office premises located at Sanjenthong.

Under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), the Chief Minister handed over one power tiller, one brush cutter and some other inputs to seven Farmers' Producer Companies for the year 2019-20.He distributed subsidized 40 power tillers and 20 tractors under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) 2019-20 .

The Chief Minister also handed quality planting materials under these two missions to different farmers and FPCs at the function.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister observed that the State has seen a fast improvement in organic farming in the past few years.

He said that the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare approved only 15,000 hectares of land for organic farming in the State under Phase-II of MOVCDNER.

However, considering the progress of this sector in the past couple of years, the Ministry had approved 25,000 hectares and 50 FPCs for growing ginger, turmeric, kiwi, passion-fruit, pineapple, king chilli, chakhao, HYV paddy and maize for the years 2020-21 to 2022-23 under the Phase-III of MOVCDNER, he informed.

The Chief Minister also urged the people to be sincere, hard working and committed no matter in what profession they are.

He said that no community in this world can match the people of the State in any field if they work hard with conviction and sincerity.

Talent of Manipuri people, culture, arts, crafts and indigenous produces are well acknowledged by the people of other States and countries, the Chief Minister said.

Stating that it has been his belief that Manipur would prosper when horticulture plants are abundantly grown in the hills of the State, the Chief Minister exhorted the hill-people to grow plants like turmeric, ginger, pineapple, banana etc instead of poppy plants.

Lauding the Horticulture and Social Conservation Department for taking up many encouraging tasks in the past few years, he also assured that the present Government would never indulge in any form of nepotism in awarding promotion and rewards to any employee of the State Government.

State Planning Board Deputy Chairman S Rajen, Yaiskul AC MLA Th Satyabrata, Principal Secretary (Horticulture and Soil Conservation) P Vaiphei and other high ranking officials of the Department and the State Government were also present at the function.

Later, the Chief Minister also inspected the condition of the office of Manipur Food and Medicinal Plants Processing and Cold Storage Co-operative Society Ltd located at Lamphelpat.