Tamenglong Komla, Kachai Champra and Manipur's U Morok Versus Phabou Ngaa for Ngaaree

JC Sanasam *

State Level Orange festival 2012 at Tamenglong in December 2012 :: Pix - Jimmy Leivon

Forgetting the idea of obtaining better yield, we are still unable to create facilities for the Kachai lemons and sweet lime fruits of Ukhrul District to reach even the Khwairamband Bazaar. There is no road constructed yet to do so; it is well known that vast number of these widely sought-after citrus fruits just get fallen on the ground and wasted rotten beyond the capacity of consumption by the local population every year. In Khwairamband Bazaar the cost of two tiny lemons brought in from outside is Rs.10 and for sweet lime it is Rs. 80-100 per kg.

It is no more a secret that it was not Manipur, not Nagaland; rather it was Tejpur that was credited for getting U Morok patented as King Chili/Naga Jalokia and for getting it entered in the Guinness Book Record as the hottest chili in the world. It attained its popularity among some people in London through Bangladesh market there.

Many of us who are fond of rhetoric in our speeches very often quote President Kennedy's idiomatic dictum don't think of what the state can do for you, think of what you can do for the state. It is a good message alright but it should not mean that the state is not going to do anything for those who hardly can contribute anything to the state.

Contrast to this are the Tamenglong people's contribution to Manipur with their Komla, the famous Tamenglong orange; Kachai people's well known Champra (lemon) and Heithums (Sweet Lime/Mosambi) from Ukhrul and world record U Morok (King Chili/Naga Jalokiya/Naga Morich/Bhoot Jalokiya/Raja Mircha), which is produced plenty all over Manipur; these are definitely some praise-worthy contributions of people to the state of Manipur.

The question is about what we have done for these worth-appreciation people who have done something for the state. There might have been instances of the government having extended due helps to those people concerned. However, little is known or heard or visible in this line of action.

Holland (Netherland) is proud of her Tulip flowers, of which they make an export-market worldwide. Why can't we do something like that with Tamenglong orange? We could help them grow it more extensively, improve the quality and go for worldwide market. Meghalaya is one of the major sources of good quality potatoes to be exported to Russia for material to brew Vodka.

Manipur could do similarly with U Morok to Mexico; the people there are very fond of hot chilies in their recipes. It is no more a secret that it was not Manipur, not Nagaland; rather it was Tejpur that was credited for getting U Morok patented as King Chili/Naga Jalokia and for getting it entered in the Guinness Book Record as the hottest chili in the world. It attained its popularity among some people in London through Bangladesh market there.

Forgetting the idea of obtaining better yield, we are still unable to create facilities for the Kachai lemons and sweet lime fruits of Ukhrul District to reach even the Khwairamband Bazaar. There is no road constructed yet to do so; it is well known that vast number of these widely sought-after citrus fruits just get fallen on the ground and wasted rotten beyond the capacity of consumption by the local population every year.

In Khwairamband Bazaar the cost of two tiny lemons brought in from outside is Rs.10 and for sweet lime it is Rs. 80-100 per kg. The Kachai Heithum (sweet lime) is still better in quality of its sweetness and juiciness than the Mosambi brought in from outside. The orchards of such fruits, if well groomed, can be even tourist spots.

If the state can provide with adequate power supply of high voltage they could create Fruit Preservation Centres so that the people can get these fruits ever fresh throughout the year irrespective of their seasons. This holds true for the pineapples of Waithou and Yairipok. Even Tripura has done it; why can't Manipur do it?

We have not yet thought of the idea of getting our rare Manipuri Chak-hao patented too. Perhaps the department concerned or the so-called NGO's are still sleeping till some other country would turn out to do the job like the USA, not India, did for the basmati rice.

Another matter worth cracking the brain is about the amount of consumption of Ngaaree and production of Phabou Ngaa in Manipur. It is said the average daily consumption of Ngaree in Manipur is more or less around 10 tons per day; and the major source of Phabou Ngaa for fermenting into Ngaaree is from Mori Gaon and Jagir Road areas in the Nowgong District of Assam.

Information has it that about twenty years back the cost of 1 kg of Phabou Ngaa in Manipur was Rs. 25 whereas it was Rs.5 only in these Nowgong areas. Naturally Ngaree manufacturers rush to these localities in Assam for procuring Phabou Ngaa.

On the other hand, it is also said that out of all types of fish it is Phabou Ngaa which is easiest to rear. Then why are our fishery firms and the Fishery Dept in Manipur not interested in rearing Phabou Ngaa to feed ourselves instead of depending on other states? Ngaaree is almost an essential commodity for the Manipuris.

These are only a few examples; there are still many more which deserve state interest and working on it, if Manipur is willing to open its eyes to glance towards the improvement of some of its socio-economic aspects.