Pineapple fest kicks off on right note
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 27 2010: Encouraging the Pineapple growers and to provide a platform for marketing their products, the 3rd State Level Manipur Pineapple Festival, 2010, which will go on for two days, has begun from today at Dr Abdul Kalam ground of Bunglon High School campus in Churachandpur district.

Pineapple growers from villages of Thangjing hill range are participating and setting up stalls in the festival being organised under the aegis of Manipur Pineapple Festival Committee (MPFC).

As in previous years, prizes were also given to the Pineapple growers who produced the largest quantity of Pineapple.

This year's top prize was bagged by Hechuon Gangte.

A damsel puts on display her wares to attract buyers

The inaugural function of the two-day long festival was attended by MTDC chairman and MLA T Manga Vaiphei as chief guest and Chairman of Churachandpur District Council Langkhanpao Guite as president.

Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur Jacintha Lazarus, IAS was also present at the occasion as guest of honour.

In connection with the festival, chairman of the Organising Committee Seijalal Thangjan informed that organising the festival as an annual event has not only helped in empowerment of Pineapple growers but also in providing a platform for marketing their products.

Organising the festival every year has also given encouragement among the growers and their number has been growing every year.

Today, above one lakh Pineapples are growing in Thangjing foothill alone, thus ensuring source of income and sustenance to many families, he said.

He further informed that out of 72,000 metric tonne of Pineapples produced last year, 32,000 metric tonne had been exported abroad.

Because of the superior quality and taste of the Pineapples growing along Thangjing foothills, there is great demand of these Pineapple variety abroad including Russia, thus opening more opportunity for exporting them.

Unfortunately, the present production has not been able to meet the growing demand.

Hechuon Gangte, who has awarded the first prize for producing the largest quantity of Pineapple this year, informed that his family started Pineapple plantation since 1958 and today 2 paris of cultivable land have been brought under Pineapple cultivation.

Hechuon recalled that Pineapple cultivation in the area was first started by his father Helpu Gangte.

In 1950, his father brought a sapling from Silchar and planted in their Ingkhol.

From that one sapling, the Pineapple cultivation has spread to other areas extensively.

Hechuon said that he has taken up Pineapple cultivation as a full-time job and the income generated from it has been able to take care of the needs of his family including education of his children.

Hechuon disclosed that he earned upto Rs 60,000 annually from cultivation of Pineapple.

It is said that two of his sons are now Government employees while the third son has passed MA.

One of his daughters had also completed BA and two other children are still studying.

There are 60 households in Bunglon village and all of them have taken up Pineapple cultivation.

On the last day of the festival tomorrow, Manipur Pineapple Queen Contest would be held.