Rüsoma orange festival spokesperson Kekhrie Pfukha addressing a press conference in Kohima on January 22. (Morung photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 22
The much awaited 3rd edition of Rüsoma Orange Festival 2023 will take place at Riisoma village under Kohima district from January 24 to 25.
Rüsoma lies about 8 km away from Nagaland’s state capital Kohima. The orange festival aims to give exposure to the orange growers to outsiders from their home settings and to intensify orange farming for economic prosperity.
The festival will take place 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.
Apart from propagating the importance of orange and business network, the festival will also feature spectrum of stalls for like handloom and handicraft, organic vegetables and fruits, fast food, sale of orange saplings etc.
The inaugural function on January 24 will take place from 10:00 AM onwards with K Neibou Sekhose, Additional Director, Rural Development as the ‘fest father.’
Welcome speech will delivered by Kehouchiikhrie Mezhier, Chairman, Rüsoma Village Council while keynote address will be delivered by Orange Festival Convenor Khrielie Chase. Short speech will be delivered by S Senka, District Horticulture Officer, Kohima.
The inaugural function will be followed by the Orange Festival Concert in aid of fundraise, to be managed by Rüsoma Village Youth & Sports Association. It will start from 4:00 PM onwards.
During the festival, oranges will be sold at Rs 110 per kg.
Awards will be conferred to the orange growers for ranking the largest and the sweetest oranges.
Addressing a press conference here today at Vivid Lounge, Rüsoma Orange Festival spokesperson Kekhrie Pfukha, on behalf of the organizers, extended invitation to one and all, to be part of the festival to experience the taste of the “best orange” in the fertile soil of Rüsoma.
He said that Rüsoma is blessed with fertile soil and one of the outstanding features of the village is the organic farming of orange.
Interestingly, in Rüsoma, a single matured orange tree bears 4000 to 5000 fruit.
Around 50 families associate with orange farming in the village. The anticipated annual income through orange cultivation comes over Rs 40 lakh.
In another 5 to 10 years, he said, the village is anticipating an annual income of Rs 3-4 crore through orange cultivation.
Orange plantation covers a total area of nearly 70 hectare in the village.
He maintained that orange farming plays a pivotal role in enhancing the economy of the village.
Unfortunately, he said, this year, due to unfavorable climatic conditions, the overall productivity scenario in term of quality and quantity has been affected.
“However, it is 100% pure organic,” he said.
Pfukha informed that the village is planning to come out with a comprehensive business strategy to carry forward orange farming to the level of fruit processing industry.
