Advisor Mhathung Yanthan and officials with the winner of different stalls and competitions during the closing ceremony of the Banana Festival held in Wokha on October 23.
Morung Express News
Wokha | October 23
The second day of the ongoing Banana Festival 2025 at Wokha Public Ground continued with much enthusiasm, featuring a vibrant mix of competitions, technical sessions, and knowledge-sharing activities centred around the theme “Banana for Food, Fibre and Future.”
The day’s events commenced with a Fancy Dress Competition, where participants showcased creative costumes inspired by banana plants and their diverse uses, including traditional applications of banana leaves. The competition reflected the festival’s broader aim of promoting creativity and awareness about the multiple values of the banana plant.
This was followed by a series of technical sessions designed to empower farmers and entrepreneurs. The second session delved into value addition, highlighting innovative methods of processing bananas and their by-products to enhance income opportunities for local growers.
Dr KN Shiva, Principal Scientist at the ICAR–National Research Centre for Banana (Trichy), shared valuable insights on techniques for preserving and increasing the value of banana produce through improved processing and preservation practices.
The third session, held later in the afternoon, focused on marketing and sales strategies, encouraging participants to explore wider markets for banana-based products and to strengthen the value chain from farm to consumer.
At the evening prize distribution session, the Advisor Mhathung Yanthan expressed appreciation to all departments, sponsors, and entrepreneurs for their support and cooperation in making the event a success. Describing the festival as a milestone initiative, he emphasised that this was only the beginning and encouraged the public to continue promoting and utilising banana-based products and by-products beyond the duration of the exhibition.
He further noted that the Banana Festival has become a model for others to learn from and expressed optimism that it would grow into an annual celebration. While acknowledging minor challenges faced as part of a first-time event, he described the festival as a valuable learning platform that would pave the way for improvement in future editions.
The Advisor also lauded the farmers for their sincerity and urged them to take full advantage of such opportunities. He stressed that with continued collaboration among departments, entrepreneurs, and farmers, Wokha could position itself as an agricultural hub at the national level.
Addressing the gathering, Dr S Hazarika, Director of the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, commended the organisers for their dedication and hard work in conceptualising and executing such a significant event. He emphasised the need for sustained commitment and a strategic approach to ensure long-term success in achieving the festival’s objectives.
Dr Hazarika assured continued support from ICAR, including technological integration, long-term research partnerships, and innovative strategies aimed at advancing the region’s agricultural development. He reaffirmed ICAR’s commitment to uplifting the regional economy and furthering the goals outlined in the Vision Document on Banana, particularly through scientific collaboration and farmer empowerment.
As the festival enters its final day, anticipation continues to build among participants and visitors, reflecting a shared sense of purpose in harnessing the potential of banana cultivation for a sustainable and prosperous future.
