Orange Festival celebrated in Tamenglong

Our Correspondent Imphal, December 9 [dropcap]A[/dropcap]kin of Sibilong village who displays his orange products at stall number 61 in the day’s orange festival bagged the best orange grower award and went home richer with a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh during the 11th edition of the state level orange festival at Tamenglong district headquarters local ground today. Akin’s colleague grower Akindi of Chiuluan village who has his orange stall (188) during the festival and Hagar (stall number 120)of Dailong village bagged second and third best orange grower’s awards during the orange growers’ competition held as part of the orange festival. Akindi got a cash award of Rs 1 lakh while Hagar Rs 75,000 cash award. In the last episode of 10th state level orange festival-Ashina Gonmei of Tamenglong, Kadijang of Noney and Abuan Golmei of Khongsang won the first three best orange growers titles.Earlier inaugurating the festival ,Manipur Chief Minister of Manipur, O Ibobi Singh on declared that oranges found in Manipur will be known as ‘Tamenglong mandarin’ from today. Chief minister O Ibobi Singh said that the government of Manipur is trying to construct cold storage but the cold storage need 24 hrs power supply.At the same time the state is facing acute shortage of power. In order to have cold storage and juice storage, the growers have to produce large quantity of orange first,he appealed. During his sojourn, a number of memorandums were submitted by the various organisations. Acknowledging the grievances of the people, he assured that the government will try to solve the deplorable road conditions, acute shortage of water in Tamenglong. In his chief host speech, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam deputy chief minister of Manipur of Tamenglong to plant more oranges plants in Tamenglong. He also proposes to shift the orange festival site to Imphal valley as the festival becomes a state level festival. In his welcome speech, RH Gonmei, deputy commissioner of Tamenglong said that the main aim of the festival is to inculcate and arouse interests of orange growers, to promote the spirit of competition in terms of producing good quality and quantity of orange, to take orange plantation in large scale as an alternative means to shift cultivation and enhance economy of the general public. Phungzathang Tonsing, Minister of Health and family Welfare also spoke on the occasion. Besides him ,Govindas Konthoujam, Minister of Com. & Ind. Sericulture and Vety. & Husbandry; Ngamthan Haokip, Minister of IFCD and Printing & Stationery; Francis Ngajokpa, Minister of RD & PR and eco & Statistic; Md. Nasir, Minister of Agriculture and Fishery; Z. Kikhonbou Newmai, Vice Chairman Hill Area Committee; J.C. Ramthanga, Principal Secretary (RD & PR, Hort & Soil Conservation, Member Secretary, EBDA & BRVDB, Govt. of Manipur also attended as the guests of honour in the day’s function. Humaliabou, Chairman ADC Tamenglong, Zino Kamei, Vice Chairman ADC Tamenglong and his members of ADC Tamenglong also attended the festival.