Officials at Rüsoma Orange Festival 2023 at Rüsoma village on January 24. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Riisoma | January 24
The 3rd edition of Rüsoma Orange Festival 2023, has pulled a large visitors, which started at Rüsoma village under Kohima district on January 24.
This festival, which will continue till January 25, is being held under the aegis of Rüsoma Village Council in association with Kohima Smart City Development Limited, Rural development Department, Horticulture Department, Agriculture Department and Land Resources Department.
Orange Festival convenor Khrielie Chase informed that this festival has been conceptualized to recognize the hard labour of the orange growers and to facilitate them the market linkages.
The large scale orange cultivation in the village has been benefitting many families, which act as the main source of strengthening the village’s economy, he said.
Currently, about 35,000 orange standing trees in the village have been contributing an income generation of Rs 40 lakh annually.
He sought the continuous support of the horticulture department to carry forward the orange cultivation in bigger scale.
Apart from orange cultivation, he said, Rüsoma also involved in fermented soyabean activity, which helped boost the economy of the village. He thanked agriculture department for providing soyabean seedlings to the farmers to augment the income of the villagers. Further, the village boasts around 40,000 coffee plants.
Thanking the land resources department for assisting the coffee growers, Chase was optimistic that if everything goes well, the village will also reach the stature of hosting coffee festival in future as well.
Sekhose call for sound economy
Gracing the inaugural function as the ‘fest father’, K Neibou Sekhose, Additional Director, Rural Development, Nagaland, was all praised the good leadership trends of the village towards the welfare and developmental activities.
He called upon the village authority to continue to maintain close coordination with the various frontal organizations and the concerned departments to succeed in livelihood activities.
The strength of peace and unity in the village has contributed to the successful celebration of Orange festival, he said and thanked Rüsoma village for enriching the image of the area, Angamis and Nagas as a whole.
He maintained that the effort of Rüsoma village in respect of self-reliance will go a long towards realizing a sound economy.
Sekhose called upon the villagers to focus on economic independence to march ahead with the competitive world.
Riisoma orange potential for GI registration
Expressing happiness with Rüsoma village for taking Orange cultivation in a big way and the grand celebration of orange festival, S Senka, District Horticulture Officer Kohima said that Rüsoma orange has potential for GI registration.
He informed that the horticulture departments has been giving due importance towards orange cultivation in the state.
Horticulture crops such as fruits (orange) are more resilient to change in weather conditions (Climate change) and the vegetables augment the income of small and marginal farmers.
Senka said that horticulture is one of the major drivers for economic growth in the country as it is more remunerative than other allied sectors.
He said that horticulture provides employment possibilities adding that horticulture sector enables the population to eat diverse and balance diet for a healthy lifestyle.
He also shared the paradigm shift in horticulture in term of traditional farming, commercial farming/permanent settle farming and smart farming.
Smart horticulture and smart farming is the transformation and reorientation of farming to increase yields through enhanced productivity, improved resilience and to reduced side effects, he said.
On Smart Horticulture farming, he stressed on the need to adopt technology led development in horticulture (Drip-irrigation), Post-harvest & value addition in horticulture crops, modified atmosphere packaging for long storability & transportation of fruits & vegetables, insect pollinators for improving productivity and quality of the crops nutrient dynamics and interaction, Bioenergy and solid waste utilization to make horticulture more efficient and eco-friendlier.
Promising/possibilities of Horticulture in Nagaland
Senka stressed the need to focus on diversification in the horticulture sector to boost major source of positive economic growth for the state and nation.
It has emerged as a promising source of income acceleration, employment generation, poverty alleviation and export promotion, he said.
He maintained that Nagaland can emerge as one of the major Organic Horticulture producer and Organic exporter in India, if sufficient emphasis is given to resource allocation, infrastructure development and better policy framework for Horticulture sector. He subscribed that horticulture sector with strong forward can stimulate and sustain economic growth in the state.
Earlier, welcome speech was delivered by Kehouchükhrie Mezhier, Chairman, Rüsoma Village Council.
The orange festival also featured several stalls like sale of handicraft, organic vegetables and fruits, food items, sale of orange saplings, workshop on orange and coffee plantation, signature campaign on “Save the Girl Child, Educate Her- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao,” etc.
Ura Vie (Thejasinuo Zhale) and Vikuolie Keyientsu has been figured as the best stall and largest stall respectively.
The distinction of the sweetest and largest orange will be declared on January 25.
The inaugural function, compered by Kekhrie Pfukha, was followed by Orange Festival Concert, which was managed by Rüsoma Village Youth & Sports Association.
Mentionably, orange is available for sale at Rs. 110 per kg throughout the two day festival.
