| |
Pineapple
festival in Churachandpur, Manipur – 29th
August 2008
The first of its kind in Churachandpur district — the largest producer
of pineapple in Manipur — the festival will be organised by a group
of pineapple farmers with support from the district administration. It
will include cultural programmers, beauty pageant and a soiree.
“This is the first ever pineapple festival in the district and we hope
to attract several buyers from other parts of the state,” the secretary
of the organizing committee, Gin Gangte, told the media today. With 300 pineapple
farmers and more than 1,000 acres of cultivable land, Churachandpur produces
70,000 pineapples every season.
“The festival aims at providing the farmers a platform to discuss issues
like marketing and promote pineapple cultivation,” Gangte said. Though
the farmers had a good harvest, marketing the produce was a problem. The main
markets are in Imphal city, Moirang in Bishnupur district and the district headquarters
of Churachandpur.
|
|
|
|
| |
“We have
many success stories; come and listen to them during the
festival,” Gangte said. Till today, at least 50 cultivators
have registered their participation and the organizers are
expecting more to follow suit.
“We expect the event to be a grand success,” Gangte said. The government
is yet to respond to the Churachandpur farmers’ demand that pineapple be
made the state fruit. Pineapple cultivation started in the district in 1947 when
Songpu Gangte, a local resident, planted 40 saplings he had brought with him.
Pineapple festival at Andro, Imphal – 21st
July 2008
India celebrated its First ever Pineapple Festival
on 21st July 2008 at Andro in Imphal East district where
above one lakh of the spiky but juicy fruit had been reportedly
produced. The First Manipur Pineapple Fair cum Youth Festival
was organised with the effort of Andro Kendra Development
Committee was held at Thambalnu Market of Andro region.
Imphal east is the largest producer of pineapples among all the districts of
the state .Growing pineapples is a big means of income for the people of Ngarian,
Andro and its surrounding areas. Encouraging the horticulturists and facilitating
market for their products was the main objective of the festival.
The agrarian community of the area has been cultivating pineapple as a major
source of income for last six decades .A local resident Khamzathang, Second World
War soldier and the chief of Bunglon village says, “The cultivation of
pineapple in Manipur was first started by Pu Songpu Gangte at Khousabung area
in Churachandpur district, incidentally in the year India won her independence
in 1947.”
As per a survey conducted by NNN, the Kew variety of pineapple
is predominantly found in Churachandpur district, particularly
within the jurisdiction of Khousabung DCC, including Khousabung,
Bunglon, Ningthiching, New Ningthiching, Harmontlang, Muolhoih,
S Nabil, Songdo and Phunchongjang villages. In this compact
area, over 700 acres of land sweep pineapple cultivation,
commanding over 70 lakh tons production of pineapples. The
Kew variety of pineapple is found in almost the whole of
Manipur. The Kew variety of pineapple is harvested from July
till September. On the other hand, the Queen variety of pineapple
is mostly found in Thoubal district.
Pineapple Festival organised consisted of a Pineapple fruit
show, Pineapple musical concert for peace, and a Pineapple
Queen contest. Besides, the festival also featured open market
as well as free eating joints. This festival has acted as
a new chapter in the annals of pineapple cultivation in Manipur.
World
Pineapple Festival was started in 1988 in the Bahamas and
in the year 2008 they celebrated their 20th annual festival.
The purpose for establishing the Pineapple Festival was to
honor the many pineapple farmers for their outstanding contributions
to the community. Secondly, to bring together farmers and
visitors from all walks of life to enjoy and participate
in pineapple events such as a pineapple eating contest, pineapple
cooking contest, old-time pineapple crazy sports, 40-mile
pineapple cycling classic, plaiting of the pineapple pole,
Little Miss Pineapple Pageant, a Junkanoo parade, craft displays,
dancing, and a non-stop pineapple party time.
Pineapple Festivals are celebrated in all the major Pineapple
producing countries around the globe. On July 4, 2008 Lanai
City held its 16th Annual Pineapple Festival. The festival
celebrated and commemorated Lanai’s pineapple plantation
and ranch history. Similarly the Maui Pineapple festival
is celebrated every year in September.
|
|
