The 12th State Level Pineapple Festival cum Sellers and Buyers Meet and Youth Festival, 2019 kicked off from July 4 at the Thambalnu Market Complex under Andro Assembly Constituency in Manipur’s Imphal East district.
The festival is organised by the Development Organisation Andro Kendra (DOAK) in collaboration with Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department from July 4-7 under the aegis of Eastern Border Area Development Authority (EBADA) under the sponsorship of North Eastern Council (NEC).
Manipur state Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar said that the festival has been successfully organised since 2007 with the guidance and blessings of the elders of the Andro Assembly Constituency.
He also credited the hard work of the DOAK members, officials of the state government, pineapple growers of the area and people of the constituency for the success of the festival.
He hoped that with the commencement of the festival, the state will receive sufficient rainfall thus ending the woes of the farmers.
Stating that the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department is working hard to increase the income of the farmers, he said that another batch of horticulture produces will be airlifted outside the state soon.
Shyamkumar also stressed on the need to promote and preserve the age old traditional culture of Andro which is also an objective for organising the festival.
He called upon people of the state to encourage and motivate the farmers by buying their produces and focus on consumption of organic produces.
Heikham Dingo Singh, Chairman Manipur Building and Other Construction Worker’s Welfare Board and MLA Sekmai, spoke in length on the adverse effects of the climate change in the state. He stressed on the importance of planting and preserving the trees to combat the issue of the climate change faced in the present day. Speaking on the festival he said it gives a platform to the pineapple growers to increase their income.
185 stalls, including 115 pineapple stalls are displaying various pineapples and other products during the festival. Visitors can also enjoy the pineapple juice produced in the two pineapple processing units at the Andro Assembly Constituency. Entertainment programmes are also the highlights of the evening function.
