Kachai Lemon Festival kicks off
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, January 16 2026: The Commissioner of Horticulture & Soil Conservation Thaithuilung Pamei has stressed on the need to preserve the quality of Kachai lemon and maintain the purity of the 'lemon juice as the citrus fruit has now gained global recognition.

T Pamei, who is also the Member Secretary of EBADA & BRVDP, Government of Manipur, made the statement while speaking at the inaugural event of the three-day 22nd State Level Kachai Lemon Festival cum Golden Jubilee Celebration of Kachai Fruit Farming & Processing Co-operative Society Ltd .

Over 20 stalls were set up at the celebration venue.

Kachai Lemon Festival kicks off

This year "Best Kachai Lemon" was awarded to Tamthingla Horam while Pomila MS bagged the 2nd position and Lanmi Shirik and Ngathingmi SW secured the 3rd position.

As the chief guest, T Pamei declared the festival open, which was followed by the unveiling of the golden jubilee monolith of the Kachai Fruit Farming & Processing Co-operative Society Ltd and the release of a souvenir in the presence of Ashish Das, DC, Ukhrul.

Addressing the gathering, T Pamei lauded the hard work of the lemon fanners which has enabled a substantial increase in lemon production.

The Department will handle the marketing aspect but farmers must maintain the purity of the lemon juice as Kachai lemon is a GI tagged/recognized citrus fruit.

Only certified Kachai lemon saplings are encouraged for plantation, said T Pamei.

The introduction of scientific methods of farming such as grafting and layering has helped to increase lemon production.

This is the outcome of the training programmes provided to some progressive farmers of Kachai at Nagpur sponsored by the H&SC Department, added the Commissioner.

The Department is also planning to send some lemon growers of Kachai village to a foreign country for advanced processing training so they can gain more knowledge, exposure and to promote Kachai lemon, he maintained.

The chief guest also distributed three shade nets to three progressive farmers of Kachai village.

At the inaugural event, DC Ashish Das urged the villagers to preserve the unique quality of the fruit terming Kachai lemon their greatest asset and gift from nature.

Themreiso R Shimray, a lemon grower, shared how he was able to plant more than 800 saplings in his orchard.

The three-day programme was sponsored by the North Eastern Council, Shillong, MDoNER, Government of India through the Planning Department, Government of Manipur.

It was implemented by the Eastern Border Area Development Authority (EBADA) Manipur, NABARD, MIDH, MOMA, H&SC, Tourism, KVK Ukhrul, ICAR, District Administration Ukhrul, MASLSA and organised by Kachai Fruit Farming & Processing Cooperative Society Ltd .