Kiwi exhibition held

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 30: "An awareness programme cum exhibition of Kiwi" was held at Keishampat Keisham Leikai Community Hall today.
The programme, held under the Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, was organised jointly by the Federation of Civil Society Organisation (FOCS), Manipur Women's Federation (MWF) and Manipur People's Defence Force (MPDF).
FOCS president Th Manihar, MWF president Khundongbam Shini, MPDF president Pebam Bishambor, Director of Horticulture K Debadutta Sharma, MOMA Project Director Donald Soubam, SMS (Horti) ICAR KVK Tamenglong Dr RK Roshan and Ningyai Vashum, Progressive Kiwi Farmer from Talui, Ukhrul attended the programme.
Farmer cards were distributed as a part of the event.
At the exhibition, FOCS president Th Manihar said his organisation strives to enhance the State's economy, safeguard and protect indigenous communities and territorial integrity.
He said Manipur must become a self-reliant State in sectors including food.
"Being independent and free has little meaning when we are dependent on others. We must become self-reliant in terms of food production," he said.
While commenting on schemes to assist farmers, he said, people who aren't farmers actually should not hold farmer cards.
He commented on the formation of the Manipur People's Defence Force (MPDF) and stated that it was established to safeguard and protect the people and the State.
The MPDF also aims to provide livelihood to the volunteers. There is nothing illegal about this organisation, Manihar said.
Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) Project Director Donald Soubam spoke about various initiatives of the agency and stated that it not only assists farmers in cultivation but also processes the products, adds values and finds suitable markets.
In short, MOMA is focused on "value chain development" to ad farmers, he said.
A total of 5,500 farmers under MOMA are cultivating Chak-hao, ginger, turmeric, U-Morok, pineapples, passion fruit, avocado and kiwi etc, he said.
Donald said the farmers are functioning under farmer producer companies which they formed themselves.
He added that MOMA assists these FPCs from cultivation to processing, and packaging to selling them in the markets.
Progressive Kiwi farmer Ningyai Vashum shared experience in kiwi cultivation.