First Manipur Kiwifruit festival begins at Purul Akutpa village

[caption id="attachment_219792" align="aligncenter" width="565"] Th shyamkumar addressing the first Kiwifruit festival at Purul village in Senapati on Saturday.[/caption] Our Correspondent Imphal, Nov. 24 (EMN): The first Manipur Kiwifruit festival under the banner “Kiwi fruit for Rural Prosperity and Healthy Living” begins on Saturday at Purul Akutpa village, about 110 km north of Imphal in Manipur’s Senapati district. A two-day festival is being organised by Senapati Producers’ Organisation of Organic Kiwifruit (SPOOK) and supported by Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) under the aegis of Horticulture and Soil Conservation department, Government of Manipur and ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat of Imphal. Manipur Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Th Shyamkumar formally opened the festival in presence of Director (HRD) Kh Siile Anthony of NEC, Shillong; Managing Director Pankaj Kumar Prasad of NERAMAC, Guwahati; Joint Director in-charge Dr. IM Singh of ICAR Manipur Centre; Joint Director (SC) Ng Ajit Singh of Horticulture and Soil Conservation department; Project Coordinator MS Khaidem of SFAC, Manipur; DDM (Senapati) Th Kiran Singh of NABARD; and other officials and villagers of Purul Akutpa. Speaking at the function, Minister Shyamkumar assured to give of INR 20 lakh for the construction of a water body, construction of drain and other requirements in the village. He made the assurance after villagers submitted a memorandum regarding the requirement for a water reservoir for the village. Saying that the pisciculture is practiced widely in Purul and adjoining areas, he told the villagers that he would intimate the concerned department so that they can get more help. He also appealed to the villagers to gradually stop practicing the jhum cultivation. He further appealed to the villagers to come forward in conserving and protecting the environment and wildlife stating that human beings cannot live without them. The minister also inaugurated a rural market shed constructed under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture scheme (2017-2018) under the aegis of Horticulture and Soil Conservation department, Government of Manipur, at the village. Main highlights of the festival include kiwifruit competition, awareness programme, buyer-seller meet, cultural events and other entertainment programs. A souvenir titled ‘1st Manipur Kiwifruit Festival’ was also released on the occasion.