Neibalie Rio, Special officer to Nagaland’s chief minister and others at Rüsoma Orange Festival on January 25. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Rüsoma | January 25
A two-day Rüsoma Orange Festival 2022, which commenced today, has registered a deserving response from many quarters.
Rüsoma village lies around 8 km from Nagaland’s State capital Kohima.
Rüsoma Orange Growers Association president Kethoselie Zhale told the media persons that out of 600 households in the village, more than 400 households are engaged into extensive cultivation of orange.
Presently, there are about 22,000 standing orange trees in the village.
Last year, around Rs. 32 lakh has been generated from the sale of orange and anticipating an income upto Rs 62 lakh by next year.
Today, Rüsoma orange reaches the market in Kohima, Dimapur and Assam.
Zhale said that entrepreneur and biker Thejakielie Zuyie initiated orange festival in the village last year.
Subsequently, Rüsoma Village Council (RVC) has taken up the event this year, which would now become an annual feature.
Festival signifies self-reliant Rüsoma
Gracing the inaugural function, Neibalie Rio, Special officer to Nagaland’s Chief Minister said that the festival signifies the high volume of self dependency and self reliance of Rüsoma villagers, which would go a long way in boosting the rural economy.
There are endless avenues in the entrepreneurship activities, he said and challenged the youth and the villagers to stay focus on entrepreneurship for self reliance and sustainable livelihood.
Also stressing on the need to reduce the level of dependency on government, he told the villagers that the government is now focusing on skill development and capacity building to enable the people to withstand on their own.
RVC Chairman Kehouchükhrie Mezhier thanked the state’s horticulture including agriculture and rural development departments for their constant support towards agri and allied activities in the village.
He also acknowledged the collective efforts of the organizing committee, orange growers and other organizations in making this Orange festival possible.
Conceptualized to encourage rural agri & allied entrepreneurship
Rüsoma VDB secretary Visier Vimera said that festival was organized for the second time is now envisioned to be a yearly event.
Back in year 1986, the village declared itself as an organic “Gardening Village” as the village leaders knew that through gardening the inhabitants of the village could earn meaningful and profitable occupation.
“Today, through the grace of God and through the active participation of many enthusiastic farmers both young and old, the orange festival is taking place here in Rüsoma village, said Vimera.
The festival is now conceptualized to encourage rural agri & allied entrepreneurship and also to popularize the organic products of the village, thereby giving the villagers more income avenues and employment opportunity, he said.
“Through this festival, it is also hoped that every citizen of this village will come to realize the importance of self-reliance through hard work and dedication, cleanliness and productive natural resource use without exploitation,” he added.
The festival also aims to give exposure to the rural farmers to outsiders from their home setting, whereby, “through a meaningful exposure there will be productive change of mindset towards progress and prosperity.”
May this festival serve us as an eye opener that we may collectively aspire to make ourselves and our society prosper in a dignified manner, he said.
Horticulture dept to strengthen festival
Temjen Jamir, District Horticulture Officer, Kohima expressed happiness over the holding of the festival in a befitting manner and assured that the department will always be there to strengthen it to a greater standard in the coming years.
The festival witnesses sale of oranges, handloom, organic vegetables, orange saplings, ice cream, fast food, juice, metal tools, beef innards, Muodi, Galho etc.
The inaugural programme was led by festival convenor Thejao Chase.
In the competition event, Vakhriezo Zhale won best stall award, largest stall-Khrielhoulie Vimera and biggest orange - Neilakholie Zhale.
The festival will continue till January 26. (10 AM to 5PM).
