2nd Water Melon Fest Kicks Off at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen
Health benefits of home grown fruit stressed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 01 2013 : A watermelon festival for watermelons produced in the State was opened today at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound here.

The festival would continue till June 10 .

The festival titled the 2nd State Level Watermelon Festival 2013 is being organised by the Nahakpam Foundation.

Speaking by the sidelines of the opening ceremony, one Nandeibam Ingocha who has been cultivating watermelon since 1995 said that most people are unaware that watermelons are cultivated in Manipur.

Customers often ask if the watermelons they are buying are imported from Myanmar or brought from Bengal.

With the watermelon festival becoming an annual event, people would be convinced that watermelons are being grown in Manipur on commercial scale.

Farmers who cultivate watermelons encounter a number of problems in Manipur and one major problem is absence of green house facility.

Water melon stall at the festival

Oinam Kunjabihari said that a nation's development stage is indicated by its people's longevity and the standard of food they eat.

Watermelons are imported from outside the State but no one questions how the watermelons are brought here and what kinds of fertilizers are used in cultivating the fruit.

He said that he did not come to the festival to earn greater profit nor did he come to the festival because he could not find market for his watermelons.

"I come to the festival to inform the public and the Government that many farmers are now growing watermelons in Manipur", Kunjabihari said.

Speaking at the opening function, Nahakpam Santa said that the first watermelon festival was organised last year.

Watermelon festivals encountered certain difficulties as the rainy season started quite early this year.

More than 60 per cent of this watermelon produce has been destroyed by rain.

The opening function was graced and IT and TD Parliamentary Secretary Victor Keishing as chief guest, Horticulture Mission Manipur in-charge Kh Ratankumar as president and KVIB Chairman S Achouba as guest of honour.

Victor Keishing said he was happy to learn that Manipuri farmers have started producing watermelons on commercial scale which was not grown in any part of Manipur some years back.

At the same time, watermelons thriving in Manipur is an indicator of the rising average temperature in the State.

One Kg of watermelon is priced at Rs 15 at the festival.

The 10-day long festival would feature Dhol Cholom performance, painting competition for school students, Thang-Ta presentation, poetry recitation, fashion parade, and musical concerts of Naba Volcano, Sori Senjam and Suren.