Khousabung Fest showcases richness in pineapple
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 30: The pineapple growers of Khousabung fondly remembered their beloved Pu Songpu Gangte who first introduced and started growing the juicy fruit in the village on the occasion of the first State level Pineapple festival held today.

One of the remote villages of Churachandpur district, Khousabung is located 45 kms from Imphal.

According to the villagers, it was Songpu Gangte who first brought Pineapple from Lakhipur, Assam in 1947 and started growing in the village.

After that people of surrounding villages also started taking keen interest in cultivation of the fruit, thus becoming one of the main sources of sustenance for all of them.

Position winners of Manipur Pineapple Queen Contest held at Khousabung village of Churachandpur district on August 30

The survey report of the Manipur Pineapple Festival Committee, Churachandpur District pointed out that under Khousabung DCC at present pineapples are being grown in over 700 acres of land by the villagers of Khousabung, Bunglon, Ningthiching, New Ningthiching, Harmontlang, Muolhoih, S Nabil, Songdo, Phunchongjang, etc, producing over 70 lakhs of pineapples every year.

Imphal, Churachandpur and Moirang are mentioned as the main markets of these pineapple production.

Bringing together the pineapple growers of the area for the first time, the pineapple festival was organised by Manipur Pineapple Festival Committee at Khousabung DCC Headquarters today.

Around 15 stalls were set up and participated in the day-long festival.

Interacting with The Sangai Express, Nengboi Gangte, one of the pineapple growers who opened a stall, appreciated the organiser of the festival and hoped more such festivals would also be organised in the future.

Dargou Gangte, son of Songpu Gangte, informed that since the days of his father, growing pineapple has been the main source of income of their family.

"Though my father passed away in 1978, all the villagers still remembered him fondly.

Overwhelmed by happiness over the festival, I stopped selling pineapples for today and has been making arrangement for the visitors to taste the fruit", he said beaming with smile.

In view of the popularity of pineapple cultivation among the villagers of the area, Dargou Gangte wished the State Government and its experts pay more attention so as to increase the production.

He also felt setting up of a factory to extract pineapple juice in the village would be helpful to the pineapple growers.

Another stall owner pointed out that frequent calling of bandhs and blockades is a real bane for the pineapple growers in trying to sell their products, which become fully mature by middle week of July to last week of August, as ripe pineapples could not be kept for more than three days.

The inaugural function of the festival was attended by Horticulture Minister Phungzathang Tonsing as chief guest, MLA Manga Vaiphei as president and social worker Amrik Singh Pahwa as guest of honour.

As part of the festival, a Manipur Pineapple Queen contest was also held in which 11 contestants participated.

After a gruelling session, Tonchan Maibam of Kwakeithel Maibam Leikai was crowned the Pineapple Queen with the titles of the Ist runner up and the 2nd runner respectively going to Momoko Khangembam of Ghari Awang Leikai and Roshni Leishangbam of Moirang College Gate.

Several hundreds thronged the festival venue enjoying the gala evening.