The 12th State Level Pineapple Festival cum Sellers and Buyers Meet and Youth Festival, 2019 is underway at the Thambalnu Market Complex in Manipur’s Imphal East district.
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The festival is organized by the Development Organization Andro Kendra (DOAK) in collaboration with Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department under the aegis of Eastern Border Area Development Authority.
The festival is held under the sponsorship of North Eastern Council (NEC) to promote pineapple cultivation to generate a sustainable income for the farming community.
Various shape and sizes of kew variety pineapples and other products were displayed by 185 stalls, including 115 pineapple stalls during the festival which will continue till July 7.
Manipur’s horticulture and soil conservation minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar, chairman of Manipur Building and Other Construction Worker’s Welfare Board, MLA Sekmai Heikham Dingo Singh and deputy Speaker K Robindro Singh of Manipur Legislative Assembly attended the formal inaugural function of the festival on Thursday.
Principal secretary J C Ramthanga of Horticulture and Soil Conservation department, social activist Th Babita Devi, DOAK and state government officials were also present.
Since the beginning of the festival, many visitors are going to enjoy the locally produced pineapple juice at the Andro Assembly Constituency.
Entertainment programmes are also the highlights of the evening function. A beauty contest called ‘Pineapple queen’ contest is also scheduled to be held as usual during the festival.
Most of the visitors felt that it is also important to develop the easily marketable products like canned pineapple slices, concentrate, extract and in powder form so that the transportation cost comes down, the shelf life increases and the fruit is available to national and international consumers the year round in a good form.
It may be mentioned that the festival has been successfully organised since 2007 with the guidance and blessings of the elders of the Andro Assembly Constituency. The active participation of the pineapple growers of the area are also a main reason for the success of the festival.