The Imphal Free Press
Moirang, Aug 13: Pineapple carnival fever has, for the first time in more than six decades of pineapple cultivation, gripped the entire populace of Khousabung District Council Constituency (DCC) area in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, as the area gears up for the first ever state-level pineapple festival, slated to be held in the last week of August. For the poor pineapple farming community, the initiative of pineapple festival to be held in the area meant another form of recognition from the power that be, and the ambience prevailing in the area summarily sums up the pulse of the farming community.
The agrarian community of the area has been cultivating pineapple as a major source of income since six decades back, though the authority that be might have been blind about the existence of large tract of land being occupied by pineapple cultivation. Says Khamzathang, 85, Second World War soldier and the chief of Bunglon village, “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 lakhs production of pineapples. According to pineapple cultivators of the area, about 10 thousand pineapple suckers could be planted in an acre of land.
The Kew variety of pineapple is now found in almost the whole of Manipur, thanks to the easy availability of pineapple suckers in Khousabung area. Interacting with NNN, Thangtinpau Gangte, registered pineapple supplier, said that the Kew variety of pineapple are found in Ichum Keirap, Daili, Singda Dam area, Kangpokpi area of Senapati district. In Ukhrul district, it is found in Lai village (Nagaland border), Kachai etc.
He said further that the pineapple variety is found in Chakpikarong of Chandel district, Leingang area in Bishnupur, Thayong area in Imphal West, and Ngariyan
Hills in Imphal East. In Tamenglong district, it is found in Leison Luangluak Khunou, Joujangtek, Nungsai, etc. 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.
According to Gin Gangte, secretary of the Manipur Pineapple Festival Committee, the celebration of pineapple festival aims to bring all the pineapple farmers of Manipur under a common platform, a promotional campaign to reach out to all the people of the state and elsewhere, to find out the problems and difficulties, as well as success stories of the farmers, and more importantly, to look out for a viable market and to encourage the farmers for a better harvest.
When asked what would the programme be like, Soizalal Thangjom, chairman of Manipur Pineapple Festival Committee said the programme would be three-fold - Pineapple show, Pineapple musical concert for peace, and Pineapple Queen contest. Besides, the festival is to feature open market as well as free eating joints. He adds that Khousabung village has been carefully chosen for the first ever Manipur Pineapple Festival as it is the first place where pineapple was grown in Manipur.
Welcoming the festival, an enthusiastic progressive farmer K David said hopefully that the festival would be an eye-opener and the government should come out with a definite farmers’ policy of the state to elevate the pathetic condition of the poor farmers.
Hesieh, another progressive pineapple farmer said that the festival will be a high point of the year for the poor farmers who are toiling and sweating in rain and sun.
Definitely, a new chapter in the annals of pineapple cultivation in Manipur is waiting to happen with the celebration of the first ever state level pineapple festival.
Moirang, Aug 13: Pineapple carnival fever has, for the first time in more than six decades of pineapple cultivation, gripped the entire populace of Khousabung District Council Constituency (DCC) area in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, as the area gears up for the first ever state-level pineapple festival, slated to be held in the last week of August. For the poor pineapple farming community, the initiative of pineapple festival to be held in the area meant another form of recognition from the power that be, and the ambience prevailing in the area summarily sums up the pulse of the farming community.
The agrarian community of the area has been cultivating pineapple as a major source of income since six decades back, though the authority that be might have been blind about the existence of large tract of land being occupied by pineapple cultivation. Says Khamzathang, 85, Second World War soldier and the chief of Bunglon village, “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 lakhs production of pineapples. According to pineapple cultivators of the area, about 10 thousand pineapple suckers could be planted in an acre of land.
The Kew variety of pineapple is now found in almost the whole of Manipur, thanks to the easy availability of pineapple suckers in Khousabung area. Interacting with NNN, Thangtinpau Gangte, registered pineapple supplier, said that the Kew variety of pineapple are found in Ichum Keirap, Daili, Singda Dam area, Kangpokpi area of Senapati district. In Ukhrul district, it is found in Lai village (Nagaland border), Kachai etc.
He said further that the pineapple variety is found in Chakpikarong of Chandel district, Leingang area in Bishnupur, Thayong area in Imphal West, and Ngariyan
Hills in Imphal East. In Tamenglong district, it is found in Leison Luangluak Khunou, Joujangtek, Nungsai, etc. 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.
According to Gin Gangte, secretary of the Manipur Pineapple Festival Committee, the celebration of pineapple festival aims to bring all the pineapple farmers of Manipur under a common platform, a promotional campaign to reach out to all the people of the state and elsewhere, to find out the problems and difficulties, as well as success stories of the farmers, and more importantly, to look out for a viable market and to encourage the farmers for a better harvest.
When asked what would the programme be like, Soizalal Thangjom, chairman of Manipur Pineapple Festival Committee said the programme would be three-fold - Pineapple show, Pineapple musical concert for peace, and Pineapple Queen contest. Besides, the festival is to feature open market as well as free eating joints. He adds that Khousabung village has been carefully chosen for the first ever Manipur Pineapple Festival as it is the first place where pineapple was grown in Manipur.
Welcoming the festival, an enthusiastic progressive farmer K David said hopefully that the festival would be an eye-opener and the government should come out with a definite farmers’ policy of the state to elevate the pathetic condition of the poor farmers.
Hesieh, another progressive pineapple farmer said that the festival will be a high point of the year for the poor farmers who are toiling and sweating in rain and sun.
Definitely, a new chapter in the annals of pineapple cultivation in Manipur is waiting to happen with the celebration of the first ever state level pineapple festival.
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