Fruitless Festivals
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: December 03 2012 -

8th State Level Orange festival 2011 at Tamenglong on 16 December 2011 :: Pix - Bullu Raj

We may be proud of the fact that Manipur is one of the Indian States which celebrate numerous festivals and fairs throughout the year round. This truly speaks of the spirit of joie de vivre of the people.

Apart from various religious and social festivals, we also have festivals for promotion of fruits like Pineapple, Lemon, Orange, etc.

This shows the innate understanding of the people on the importance of such nutritious and vitamin-rich fruits for leading a healthy and disease free life.

That is why lakhs of rupees are being spent in organizing such festivals with the main objective of not just encouraging the farmers but also to showcase the rich horticultural products of the State.

However, how far these festivals have actually benefited the farmers in whose interest such events are being organized always remains a big question.

Through this column, we have earlier highlighted how Pineapple cultivators in the State have been given cold shoulder treatment time and again by the organizers who are busy in selection of Pineapple Queen rather than encouraging the Pineapple growers. As a consequence, the number of Pineapple growers participating in the annual Pineapple festival has only dwindled.

In all likelihood, the tragedy that struck the Pineapple growers of the State is sure to hit the Orange growers of Tamenglong district, if the report of villages which were once known for Orange cultivation standing forlorn without Orange orchards is anything to go by.

The stage for celebrating the 9th edition of State Level Orange Festival may have been set from December 14 to 15 at the mini stadium of Tamenglong district headquarters, but the leaves, branches and base roots of Orange trees have all dried up, thus, leaving no option for the poor farmers but to replace their Orange farms with Potato cultivations.

Experts of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have opined that changes in the climatic condition sweeping across this tiny landlocked State is mainly responsible for drying up of Orange trees.

So, it's time for the organizers of Orange festival to wake up and not lost sight from the main objective of organizing the festival in the place first, which is promotion of Orange cultivation and welfare for Orange growers.

Reducing Orange festival to all about Orange Queen contest and prize tags without any actual Orange fruit in sight would be indeed ridiculous.