Imphal, 6th September, 2017 (DIPR): Commerce and Industries Minister Shri Thongam Biswajit Singh inaugurated the VIII Sirarakhong Hathei (Chilli) Phanit today at the Sirarakhong Village and ensured all forms of assistance from the Government to the chilli growers.
Addressing the formal inaugural function, Shri Biswajit encouraged the chilli growers to work harder, and said, he will certainly discuss with the Chief Minister ways to promote the festival, increase production of the chilli and provide a market.
The Minister also spoke on the uniqueness of the chilli variety grown in the village and said the chilli is not found anywhere else. He said the chilli is indigenous to Sirarakhong Village and the same variety, when planted at other places, loses its uniqueness and production as well as taste, flavour and size.
He continued, it is unfortunate that there is no government initiative visible so far to promote the unique variety of chilli.
Minister Biswajit also spoke on the feasibility of producing hybrids of the chilli. He continued the failure of the concern to open a Common Facility Centre (CFC) for chilli yet is unfortunate and that the CM will be apprised of the issue and to look into what the KVKs, ICAR have been doing so far.
He said that, he will discuss with the Chief Minister the issue of promoting the festival by organising it at the State level as an encouragement to the chilli growers and improve production which will eventually improve the State’s economy.
Explaining on the need to encourage the farmers, he said, we have to give priority to items produced in the State.
Minister Biswajit said that without a stable economy there will be no peace. The Government is there to provide jobs to the youth, however, Government job alone is not employment, and we need to push for and open more self employment avenues, he said encouraging self employment among the youths.
He said there will be peace only when people start trusting one another. We can achieve this trust only when people start communicating with each other, he said and added, that we should forget and forgive past mistakes.
The Minister also said that the government is committed to achieve 1.5 lakh employment generations in a year in the State under the various government departments. This will ensure 7 lakh employment generations in five years.
Explaining welfare schemes including the KISAN SAMPADA, the Minister also said that there is a need to spread awareness of the schemes to the people.
On the lack of development in the State, the Minister said the people are also to be blamed. We are using products imported from outside the State which means there is a drain of wealth from the State. He explained that if we start consuming products made in the State we will be able to improve the economy.
He continued that we can easily find markets for chillis, but we have to attract investors and entrepreneurs to improve production. Minister Biswajit also said that he will submit a proposal for setting up of a CFC project, but there is need for entrepreneurs and investors.
There are many schemes of the government, but we are not informative and lack of awareness of the many schemes of the government, he continued. We are unable to explore our resources and talents, he said. He continued that it is unfortunate that we have failed to properly exploit the nature provided resources available to open more employment avenues for the youth.
Minister Biswajit also spoke elaborately on the Zero Defect, Zero Effect scheme and also urged the Shirarakhong chilli growers to apply for registration of their products under ZED which will only increase the marketability of their products in the global market.
The inaugural function was also attended by Keirao MLA Shri L Rameshwor Singh among others.
The festival organized with an objective to promote the indigenous variety of Shirarakhong chili will continue till September 8, 2017. The first day of the festival was also attended by people from various parts of the State.(DIPR)
