Goa will host the Konkan fruit festival showcasing over 150 varieties of fruits produced in the region from April 29 to May 1.

“Around 200 farmers from Goa and Konkan region will participate in the festival to be held on the street along the Mandovi river. This festival is an annual affair,” Mr Miguel Braganza, secretary, Botanical Society of Goa, told PTI.

He said almost 60,000 footfalls are expected for the festival, which will be held over three days.

Organisers expect that a variety of popular fruits like mango, jackfruit, kokum, chickoo and annona among others will be on display, to educate people about the rich horticultural bio diversity in the western ghat region.

Mr Braganza said almost 50 varieties of mango itself will be on the stalls.

Goa-based farmer Srihari Kurade will display 30 varieties of mangoes produced at his farm in Cuncolim village, 40 km away from here. Another farmer Prabhakar Keni will showcase varieties of mango, cashew and jackfruits, he said, adding that farmers from Maharashtra’s Deogad, Kudal and Mutt areas of Konkan belt will also make their presence for the festival.

Giving a typical Goan touch to the festival, organisers have roped in the Goa Tiatre Academy, which will present Konkani songs based on the fruits during the festival. In yet another highlight, they will be displaying hurrak, the brewery produced from cashew fruit, at a special stall.

Mr Braganza said hurrak is produced by traditional ‘lawani’ method in the state’s Sattari taluka.

Various government, semi-government organisations and NGOs working in the field of horticulture including the BSG, State Directorate of Agriculture, Corporation of City of Panaji, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurla, Konkan Krishi Vidyapith and Dapoli have joined hands to host the festival.

Related Topics