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MOKOKCHUNG: The 2nd edition of Cucumber Festival Aliba 2023, a two-day event to celebrate farmer’s efforts, innovativeness, resilience and their enterprising nature got underway in Aliba village under Mokokchung district, some 16 kilometer away from Mokokchung district headquarters.
The festival witnessed hundreds of people from different walks of life taking the opportunity to purchase off-season cucumber directly from local farmers at an affordable rate. It was also a time for farmer-scientist interaction and showcase value added products of cucumbers, handicrafts and agri tools.
Temsuienla, additional director of Agriculture, who was the special invitee of the inaugural programme, paid tributes to Late Burremba Pongen, pioneer of off-season cucumber cultivation, for putting Aliba village in the agriculture map as a model village for the farmers.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]According to her, cucumber cultivation has played a crucial role for Aliba village in boosting its economy. In this regard, she encouraged the farmers to become the highest producer of off-season cucumber free from chemical.
Since the cucumber shelve life is hardly one week, she has suggested the farmers to focus on processing and post-harvesting management. She also encouraged the farmers to get a geographical indication (GI) tag for Aliba off-season cucumber.
Earlier, the special invitee also released the magalogue of first Cucumber Festival 2022, while short speeches were also said by Chumlamo Humtsoe, ADC and MMC administrator; chairman of Aliba village council; and Toshimongla, co-covener of organising committee.
It was reported that the famers have reap triple harvest this year as compared to last year. However, farmers have complained that the production this year was not up to their expectation due to heat and water distress caused by climate change.
It was also reported an approximate 15,000 pieces of cucumbers collected from the farms in Aliba, Kinunger and Chungtia were completely sold out by around 3 pm on the first day. The organisers informed that the same quantity would be available for sale on the second day.