Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh Monday called upon orange growers to start tissue culture for the Tamenglong Oranges to ensure that the local orange doesn’t get mixed with other varieties and that it doesn’t lose its taste or uniqueness.
The government has started exporting products like black rice, and pineapple, he said oranges can also be exported if we have surplus production, he added.
Biren was attending the Orange festival at Tamenglong district headquarters and inaugurated the Development and Promotion of Eco-tourism Centres at Zeilad Lake and Tharon Cave in Tamenglong District ), Cold Storage Chain at Tamenglong, Water Supply Scheme at Tamah, Tamei and Indoor Stadium cum Multipurpose Hall at Tamenglong District Headquarters.
He said the cold storage inaugurated today will help farmers in storing their products, the Chief Minister said, assuring that the government is always there for the people.
The State government wants to make Tamenglong an Orange producing district because the orange variety grown in the district is suitable for the soil of the district, he said highlighting the unique taste of the orange.
The increased prize money will encourage locals to take up orange farming and make themselves economically viable and self-reliant, which will eventually improve the local economy, he added.
N. Biren also stressed that Tamenglong is moving towards development, citing various developmental projects like eco-tourism centres at Thanlon Caves, Zeilad Lake, among others.
In today’s modern world, tourism is the best option for places like Manipur and Tamenglong to improve the economy, he continued deliberating on the need to develop and promote the tourist spots in the State.
Reiterating his earlier assurance to the people of the district, the Chief Minister said the government is making Tamenglong, one of the most developed districts of the State and further highlighted development works undertaken including the construction of a water supply, ongoing work for an Amusement Park near Barak River.
He said we have also proposed the centre for the development of a tourist centre at Bunning. The CM also appealed to the people against creating disturbances to developmental projects.
Stressing the importance of communication, the Chief Minister spoke on the works taken up on the Khongsang road to Tamenglong, the Imphal-Kangchup-Tamenglong road and the construction of another helipad at Tamenglong.
Stating that the government had lost at least two and a half years in the last term to the Covid pandemic and another 5-6 months to the rains in the present term, the CM said that the government had just around 3 years of working season.
He continued that with the support and cooperation of the public, the government is able to bring development to the State. The CM along with the other dignitaries also inspected the stalls opened at the festival venue.
During the programme, a 500-strong team of the RBCC Women choir group also presented a song.
Other highlights also included the beating of the traditional gong 17 times by the dignitaries led by the Chief Minister to commemorate the 17th edition of the festival, playing of the festival song, various performances by traditional dance groups and Thang-ta performances.
Altogether 270 orange farmers participated in the festival. Every orange farmer must bring a minimum 1000 oranges to participate in the festival.
Gainiliu of Sibilong village, Tousem Sub division was adjudged as the first in the Orange competition, Tanimliu kamei of Sibilong village, Tousem Sub division as second and Gaikhammei of Changdai village, Tamenglong the third.
Cash Prizes were awarded to the winners of the competition i.e., Rs 2 lakhs to the first, the second with Rs 1 lakh and the third Rs 75,000.
