Special Correspondent
Panaji, Apr 20: Various organs of Goa government in association with the agro-NGOs will host Konkan Fruit Festival in the state, which will showcase more than 150 varieties of fruits produced in this region, the organizers said.
The festival will be held on the street along Mandovi river from April 20 to May 1.
“Around 200 farmers from Goa and Konkan region will participating in the festival. This festival is an annual affair,” Miguel Braganza, Secretary, Botanical Society of Goa (BSG), said.
He said that almost 60,000 footfalls are expected for this festival, which will be held over three days.
The organizers expect that the variety of popular fruits like mango, jackfruit, kokum, chickoo, Anona Fruits and others will be on display, to educate people about the rich horticultural bio diversity in the
western ghat region.
Braganza said that almost 50 varieties of mango itself will be on the stalls. Goa based farmer Srihari Kurade, will be display 30 varieties of Mango produced at his farm in Cuncolim village, 40 kms away from
here.
Another farmer Prabhakar Keni will showcase varieties of Mango, Cashew and Jackfruits, he said adding that the farmers from Maharashtra’s Deogad, Kudal and Mutt areas of Konkan belt will make their presence for the festival.
Giving a typical goan touch for the festival, the organizers have roped in Goa Tiatre Academy, which will present Konkani songs based on fruits during the festival.
In yet another highlight, the organizers will be displaying hurrak, the brewery produced from Cashew fruit, on a specialized stall. Braganza said that this hurrak is produced by traditional `lawani’ method in state’s Sattari taluka.
Various government, semi-government organizations and NGOs working in the field of Horticulture have joined hands to host this festival.
Branganza said that BSG, State Directorate of Agriculture, Corporation of city of Panaji, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurla, Konkan Krishi Vidyapith,
Dapoli are organizing this festival.
The talks are also on with NABARD, state art and culture department and Food and drugs administration department to be the organizers, he added.