Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 18:
A day long seminar organised today by Directorate of Commerce and Industries, Govt of Manipur in connection with the 'World Food Day' centred around an intense deliberation between experts and farmers on 'production, processing and export of passion fruit products' at Food Processing Training Hall, Porompat.
The seminar programme was graced by Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Francis Ngajokpa and Director of the host Department Dhiraj Yumnam as the chief guest and president respectively.
director of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Kirankumar and Chief Food Technologists (retired) of Magfruit G Nandalal Sharma were the guests of honour.
addressing as a resource person on the topic 'Passion Fruit Cultivation in Manipur' prof Dr W Ingo of Central Agricultural University (Horticulture Dept) said passion fruit variety found in Manipur is of yellow and purple colours of which the yellow variety is suitable to soil texture of the valley area while soil and climatic conditions found in higher ranges (hills) are more suited to the latter variety.
He also informed that purple variety which has lesser acidity contents are more in demand from consumers whereas the yellow coloured passion fruit have more juices and more concentration of acidity.
Explaining that both the passion fruit varieties are commercially viable, the professor prevailed upon the cultivators to consult Department experts prior to taking up any large scale plantation of passion fruit whose demands have been witnessing a gradual increase in recent times.
Further identifying one of the fruit shapes of being oval and another rounded, he said the oval shaped type is most productive commercially.
Providing further details, Dr Ingo said passion fruit plantation requires pruning before onset of wet season (April-May) with the replantation process required every five or six for abundant produce.
Besides commenting that February-March is most suitable to begin passion fruit plantation through stem-system that enables the cultivators to pluck the fruit in ten months, he said passion fruit contains high nutrition and medicinal value especially to persons having diabetes cases.
Inspite of limited marketing avenues, Dr Ingo nevertheless claimed that for quality product there will be no shortage of buyers.
Not ruling out application of fertilisers, he however encouraged use of organic manure.
After detailed deliberations by about 11 resource persons on passion fruit plantation, nurturing and marketing avenues an interaction session with the experts and cultivators was also held apart from releasing a passion fruit souvenir.