SHILLONG, JULY 11: The first ever “Jackfruit Festival” got underway on Thursday at Williamnagar, the East Garo hills district headquarter, with Meghalaya social welfare minister inaugurating it.
The festival is being organized under the aegis of the Meghalaya Integrated Basin Development & Livelihood Promotion Programme in collaboration with the district administration.
Marak, who spoke as the chief guest at the inauguration of the festival, lamented the lack of marketing and the absence of scientific processing and preservation of jackfruit in Garo Hills. She said huge amount of jackfruits were wasted annually even as she informed that the fruit can be processed and preserved in many ways.
Marak hoped that the Jackfruit Festival will educate the people, especially the farmers, on the utility of jackfruit and said that the festival was organized with an aim to propagate large scale awareness about the utility of the fruit as well as to explore and nurture its livelihood opportunities among the local people.
Marak also stressed on the importance of jackfruit and call upon the gathering to make maximum use of the organic fruit which grows in abundant in the district and also hope that their economy will increase manifold.
Marak lauded the organizers for initiating such kind of festival, which she said will benefit the populace as well the society and to create awareness about the importance and usefulness of jackfruit.
East Garo hills deputy commissioner VK Mantri said that Garo hills is blessed with natural resources and fertile land but still people are living in poor economic condition. He informed that 80 percent of jackfruits in Garo hills are wasted under a tree because of our lack of knowledge to commercialise the organic fruit.
Mantri also stated that Garo hills have the potential of beating the world record of the largest jackfruit if proper exposure can be made. Later exhibition, workshop and seminar were also conducted.- By Our Reporter
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