Acknowledging the abundance of quality bananas North Garo Hills today celebrate Banana fest at Gokulgre, Bajengdoba to promote the fruit and its products.
The district is one of the major suppliers of ripe and unripe bananas to different states particularly Assam and other states and chose banana as the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative under the PMFME scheme under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, which seek to promote a product that holds the essence of the region.
Stalls layered with varied banana products from ripe – unripe bananas to other processed products such as banana chips, bread, jam, banana butter, banana cakes etc; besides othere handicrafts and food crafts were put on display.
During the programme, banana growers and other farmers were highlighted about the potential of value addition of banana, its packaging and marketing which would enable the banana growers to uplift their livelihood. The importance of agri-horti crops for doubling farmers income was also deliberated.
Poshan Maah, a flagship programme under Poshan Abhiyan was also observed simultaneously spreading the awareness on the importance of nutrition, health supplements for pregnant mother, lactating mothers, infant and adolescent. The programme was aimed at bringing down the Infant Mortality Rate, Child Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate.
The programme which was organised by District Programme Officer, ICDS Cell also conducted a health screening free of cost for the participants.
Speakers who spoke during the programme were Dr A M Sangma, Senior Medical & Health Officer, DSWO, Jakrim Momin, Horticulture Development Officer, and Nitul Das, Assistant General Manager, MBDA.
