DIMAPUR — The Thanamir village council, in collaboration with the district horticulture office, hosted the 15th Apple Festival on September 10 in Thanamir village under Pungro subdivision of Kiphire district on the theme “Apple for health and wealth and prosperity.”
The minister of Women Resource Development and Horticulture, Salhoutuonuo Kruse, who attended the festival as the special guest, shared her joy of witnessing the event and expressed her admiration for the place, village and citizens of the Thanamir village.
She also acknowledged the host of the festival, MLA and Advisor, Kiusumew, for inviting her to be the special guest of the event. She encouraged villagers to plant more apple trees and assured all possible assistance from the department particularly to find markets for the produce.
She further assured to provide one apple processing unit in Thanamir village through the department of Horticulture.
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The guest of honour and advisor of Geology and Mining and DUDA, W Chingang Konyak, stated that Thanamir village is located in a rich mineral district. He has urged to give utmost priority on minerals for human development.
Asserting that road and education are the most important aspects for social development, Chingang urged the citizens to take care of these two factors.
The advisor of Fire and Emergency Services, Home Guard and Civil Defence and Rehabilitation, S Kiusumew, while welcoming the special guest and guest of honour, expressed his gratitude for coming all the way from Kohima to attend the festival.
A DIPR report stated that the chairman of Thanamir Village Council, Tsechimong, submitted a representation to the Directorate of Horticulture for setting up of Horticulture Research Centre (HRC) in Thanamir village. He also shared about varieties of apple grown in the village.
The report stated that besides apple, various fruits like persimmon, kiwi, pear, strawberry, yaconl, plum, wild apple, silverberry, myrica rubra, sumac and indigenous wild fruits are ideally grown in large quantity in the village. It added that Thanamir is the leading aspirational block of Kiphire district.
Neighbouring villages like Fakim, Salomi, Penkim, Khongsa town, Khong, Tsundang and Vongtsuvong also produce good quality apple in large scale.
The director of Horticulture along with deputy commissioner of Kiphire and DHO of Kiphire also attended the programme as the guest speakers.
