First Imoinu Fish Festival, 2023 held
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, January 03 2023: Fisheries minister Heikham Dingo Singh on Tuesday inaugurated the First Imoinu Fish Festival, 2023 at Hapta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound Imphal East.

The festival was organised by the fisheries department, especially in connection with Imoinu Iratpa celebration.

Notably, Imoinu Iratpa is celebrated on the 12th day of Wakching month of Manipuri Lunar Calendar, with traditional gaiety and religious fervour.

On this day, seasonal fruits, vegetables and fish are offered to evoke the blessings of goddess Imoinu, believed to be the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

Speaking on the occasion, minister Dingo informed that organising the First Imoinu Fish Festival under the guidance of chief minister N Biren is a great achievement of the fishery department.

In the history of Manipur, the festival is one of its kind where not only fishes but also seasonal vegetables and fruits were displayed and sold for religious offerings to goddess Imoinu.

In a way, the festival is a one stop centre for the public to easily buy all the items required for Imoinu Iratpa celebration, he added.

The minister further said that a major improvement has been seen in fisheries department.

In the recently concluded Annual Fish Fair cum Fish Crop Competition, 2022 organised in connection with Ningol Chakkouba, above Rs 3.5 crore of fishes were sold in a single day which was a big achievement for the department, he said.

For the Imoinu Fish Festival, the target production of fish is 50,000 kg of which Meitei Sareng production is targeted for 2,000 kg, he added.

Dingo further added that the department has been taking up steps to increase the fish yield in the state.

He said that to encourage the newly established fish farmers and entrepreneurs, the department has been distributing loans under centrally as well as state sponsored schemes, to increase the fish yield in the state to become self-reliant.

He also added that the department is trying to implement cage culture and aquaculture scheme in the water bodies of the state to increase the yield.

The minister appealed to the public to refrain from malpractices while catching fish and not to catch fish during breeding season.

He also appealed to the public to co-operate with the fishery department and fish farmers so as to increase the fish yield in the state.

Director of Fisheries H Balkrisna Singh,' in his keynote address, informed that the department has been organising fish fair since 1979.The main purpose of organising fish fair in the state is to increase fish yield and supply to the demand at affordable prices.

He continued that the First Imoinu Fish Festival is held after successfully organising the Annual Fish Fair cum Crop Competition, 2022 held in connection with Ningol Chakouba.

The Imoinu Fish Festival is mainly held to encourage the fish farmers and to decrease import of fish in the state, he added.

He further informed that altogether 90 stalls, provided by the department at free of cost, were opened with the participation of agriculture and allied departments of the government of Manipur and other private firms.

The rate of various fishes sold at the festival was fixed by the department.

Fisheries department also bear the transportation charges of the fish brought for sale by the fish farmers.

The festival was opened for the public from 9 am till 5 pm, he added.

MANIDCO chairman MLA Kongkham Robindro Singh, secretary (fisheries) H Ro-bita, additional secretary (fisheries) Neeta Arambam, additional director (fisheries) Khamsing Ahum, district officials and staff of Fisheries department, and fish farmers attended the inaugural function among others.

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