TODAY -
this season Orange trees on Yongchak track
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 06 2010:
The curse on Tamenglong continues.
After facing the devastation caused by widespread bamboo flowering in the past, people of Tamenglong district are unlikely to reap the fruits of their sweat and toil this year too as withering of orange plants have been reported from various areas.
The annual Orange Festival is also likely to be a low key affair for the production is certain to be inadequate.
Based on information about withering of orange plants The Sangai Express conducted a spot inspection of plantation sites in Tamenglong district, which is the largest orange producer of Manipur.
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During the visit, it came to light that apart from withering of the plant on a large scale, the size of the fruit has also diminished significantly compared to the past.
48 year old Ashim Kamei, who planted about 250 orange plants at her farm in Rengpang, said the entire plantation had withered last year when it started to bear fruit.
Unwilling to take further risk, she plans to invest in nurturing timber wood by planting wang and Tan varieties.One Namthaidinang Gangmei (72) of Khongjarol, another farmer hit by the withering of orange plants, recounted occurrence of similar devastation in 1959-60 .
He informed about detection of withering from the foot of the plants which was followed by falling of leaves.
Some of the plants that survived were devastated by hailstorm that wiped out at the flowering stage with most of the crops gradually decaying due to excessive rainfall this year.
Gangmei also maintained that orange farmers used to earn about Rs 10,000 in a bountiful season with such an income very remote this year owing to the current phenomenon of withering.
Such a devastation has also been reported from major plantation sites in Old Killong, Haochong, Thangal, Bhallok, Namtiram, Irang, Khebuching and Waiwangba villages.
During a round of orange farms in Khongjarol village it was found that the plants had not only withered but a few that survived either have few oranges or are smaller in size.
Talking to The Sangai Express, Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong district K Panmei said withering of orange plants occurs in about a 50 year cycle and success of the annual Orange Festival to be held on December 10-11 remains in doubt as the product would be inadequate.
informing that in his native village Tamenglong Khunjao quantity of orange production had been decreasing every year, the DC suggested that there is urgent need for subject experts to study the event so as to avert further devastation.
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