CM advocates planting of dragon fruits

Peren, September 24 (MExN): Chief Minister TR Zeliang advocated plantation of dragon fruits at Mhaikam village and its surrounding areas, while professing that the fruit has the commercial potentials to invigorate the fragile economy of the people in the area.  

Addressing the public gathering during the inaugural function of the Mhaikam Village gate and rostrum on Saturday, Zeliang said that the Mhaikam and its neighbouring villages has sufficient land with suitable climate for large scale dragon fruit plantation, which can be made commercially viable for economic uplift.  

With the increasing demand for dragon fruit in the markets because of its health value and taste, large scale plantation of the fruit will transform people’s economy if it can be carried out in planned manner, the chief minister stated.  

Citing instances of success stories on dragon fruit plantations at Mhaikam Village and displaying the fruit sample before the gathering, the chief minister said that the fruit produce at Mhaikam and its surrounding areas are of better quality with better taste and higher nutritional content has an immense commercial potential in both domestic and international market. 

The chief minister also propounded that for sustainable economy, a time has come for villagers to shift their way of farming from less productive cultivations like planting teak trees in the arable land which occupy large areas for long period of time without any returns to cash crops farming which will give economic benefits within a short span of time.  

The ongoing railway project and the proposed national highway along Mhaikam and its surrounding villages has brightened the prospect of the area becoming one of the economic hub of the state, Zeliang stated. He, however, reminded the villagers that it will largely depend on how judiciously they utilize their land through proper planning, efficient management system and suitable agricultural technologies.  

This is not the time to fight or encroach upon each other’s land and create misunderstanding among different community, but understand its potentials and utility through peaceful means for mutual progress and prosperity, Zeliang added.