Noney comes alive to banana festival
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 24 2019: Art and Culture Minister L Jayantakumar has called for building unity among the hills and valley people to take the State forward.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of the 2nd State Level Banana Festival 2019 today at Longmai (Noney) Common Ground.

Recalling the history when the chief/head of Longmai village was honoured and recognized formally as the "Khullakpa of Longmai" by king Gambhir Singh, he said that Noney district is well advanced in terms of cultural values and is closely associated with the history of Manipur.

Besides the district is famous for banana and other horticulture produces.

Noney comes alive to banana festival

He also asked the people of Noney district to come forward and build a cultural hall wherein cultural artefacts and values can be preserved in a museum while assuring support in the same efforts.

Maintaining that many developmental activities can be taken up when hill people and valley people are united, he underscored the need for building a sense of unity among hills and valley people.

Admitting that the State needs many infrastructural development and manpower in health sector, Jayantakumar who is also the Health Minister conveyed that multiple minor works related with heallthcare services, including construction of an operation theatre at Nungba Community Health Centre (CHC) and renovation of the quarters of Nungba and Noney CMOs have been earmarked in the State budget.

Noting that Noney is blessed with rich soil and has rich potential to become an economically advanced district, the Minister opined that farmers can reap double benefits if they cultivate medicinal and aromatic plants between banana plants in the district.

Lok Sabha MP Dr RK Ranjan who attended as the guest of honour stated that there are adequate scopes for boosting the economy of Noney district through banana plantation.

He pointed out that banana and banana leaves are highly demanded in valley area as they are indispensable in every feast and ritual functions of Meitei people.

Noney will become a tourist destination after the ongoing construction of world's highest railway bridge in the district is over and large number of tourists thronging to see the structure will be a boon to the banana growers, Dr Ranjan said.

He then asked the people of Noney district to grow more bananas instead of worrying about finding place for marketing their produces.

Observing that setting up a banana factory/industry in Noney district where banana snacks, chips and other forms of food types can be produced will be quite beneficial to the banana growers, Ranjan conveyed that he along with Health Minister Jayantakumar had met the Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and many food scientists and discussed about horticulture produces of the State.

The CSIR Director and food scientists have expressed that bananas and pineapples of Manipur can be exported to other countries after value addition, the MP asserted.

He said that he has started working on this with several entrepreneurs of the State and a workshop will soon be conducted, he added.

The function was also attended by Tamenglong ADC Chairman Namsinrei Panmei, MTDC Chairman Vungzagin Valte, Manipur State Disaster Management Authority Vice Chairman Adim Pamei, among others as the president and guests of honour respectively.

Altogether 80 banana stalls were opened at the festival which was organized with the main objective of promoting banana, creating a bigger market base through a systematic arrangement and bringing a more sustainable and economically self-sufficient agro-based society in Noney district and the State at large.

Many cultural items and special songs from Manipuri singers, including Hamon Sadananda also marked the main event of the banana festival.