With the objective to boost up the local Watermelon farmers, Nahakpam Foundation for Development is all set to organize 4th state level watermelon festival from 25th May at GM Hall Imphal.
Nahakpam Foundation for Dvelopment Secretary Santa Singh Nahakpam said that during the festival Nahakpam Foundation for Dvelopment will be creating an integrated market for local watermelon farmers where more than 200 tons of local;ly produced fruits will be put on sale.
Best watermelon farmer competition will also be held during the festival. A cash prize of Rs 50,000 will be awarded to the best watermelon grower. Participants should register with the organizing committee of the festival to join th competition. Best watermelon farmer will be selected on the basis of a panel who will visit the registered competitor’s farm after May 10, Santa said.
As part of the festival, Seminars on Agro-entrepreneusrhip, co-operative farming and its opportunities etc will also be held on May 28 and May 29.On May 27, a painting competition of the school going students will bbe held on the theme Watermelon in our farms. On My 30, a public discussion on the dependence on rain in farming and dependence of rain in Government policy of Agricultural and Horticultural products will be held.
A blood donation will be held during the festival.
Festival organising Committee Convenor Ingocha said that the objective behind the festival is to promote the local watermelon farmers in the state.
While lambasting the government for not adopting water policy, he said that green revolution will not be successful in the state since the government fails to take up any measures to encourage the farmers. Government is doing only lip service.
He said that abundant availability of water is a must for the farmers, the watermelon farmers in particular. With the government failing to take up measures to provide water to the field, watermelon farmers in the state are unable to produce good yield of watermelon. “We have land to grow watermelon, but no water”, he said.
We heard that varieties of seeds are provided to the farmers by the Government. However, genuine farmers are not getting the same with the local MLAs, Ministers politicizing while distribution of seeds to the farmers, alleged he.
