KONKANI FRUIT FESTIVAL
The programme of
the KONKAN FRUIT FEST prepared at a meeting of the Organising Committee is as
under:
Thursday 05 May,2005.
Receipt of fresh fruit entries at the venue[Promenade, opposite old GMC,DBB
Marg, Panaji] upto 2.00 P.M. Setting up of the display, knowldge and sales
stalls. [ Security provided] from 3.00 P.M. Judging of competition entries
from 4.00 P.M.
Friday,06 May, 2005
10.30 A.M. Inaugural Function.
12.00 noon KONKAN FRUIT FEST open for public viewing.
3.00 P.M. Entries accepted for fruit products [ fresh and preserved
catergories] fruit cakes, tarts, fruit salads, fruit platter, fruyit trifle,
fruit souffle, juices, squashes, wines, jams, preserves, candy, pickles, etc.
If there are less than 3 entries in a product group, it will be clubbed under
miscellenaeous catergory. Prizes will be awarded the same day.
5.00 P.M. Mango eating competition for both genders. [ Competitors to bring
about a dozen mangoes to eat in 3 minutes. Net weight of pulp eaten, without
the aid of any implements like knife,etc will be the criterion for judging.
Mangoes may be washed but not otherwise tampered in advance.]
5.30 P.M. Fruit carving and Fruit basket decor demonstration.
6.00 P.M. Participatory cultural programmes by local amateur
performers[Enquiries welcome] mand prize distribution.
8.00 P.M. Fest closed for the day.
Saturday, 07 May, 2005
10.00 A.M. KONKAN FRUIT FEST open to public.
10.30 A.M. Fruit Carving competition.
11.30 A.M. Fruit decor/basket competition.
4.00 P.M. Watermelon eating competition.[ Ladies/Gents]
4.30 P.M. Fruit Fancy Dress/Fashion Competition for children[ Tiny tots,
Primary School, Others]
5.30 P.M. Prize Distribution and entertainment programme.
8.00 P.M. Fest closed for the day.
Sunday 08 May,2005
09.00 A.M. KONKAN FRUIT FEST open to public.
10.00 A.M. Fruit Quiz [ Prizes for individual questions; open to all]
11.00 A.M. Papaya eating competition for both genders[ bring your own fruits.]
4.00 P.M. Banana eating competition.
5.00 P.M. Valedictory function & Prize Distribution.
6.00 P.M. Competition Section closed to public. Return of entries to
competitors/nominees.
8.00 P.M. KONKAN FRUIT FEST closed for the year.
Individuals and groups who would like to perform on stage, display and sell
fruits or home-scale fruit products may please contact on mobile 9822982676 or
9822124032 or 9890525833. This is your event facilitated by the Botanical
Society of Goa.
The confirmed programme will be announced by 25 April, 2005 after consultation
with co-organizers and the local authorities.
A report on the
"first day,first show" from BSG's 2003 archives:
KFF/2K3/103 09 May, 2003
KONKAN FRUIT FEST 2003
The first Konkan Fruit Fest got underway with great pomp and gaiety at Panaji
today.
The Campal Heritage Precint is hummimg with activity. Francisco Martins has
breathed life and added rustic colours to the sleepy avenues. Yes, the very
first Konkan Fruit Fest that brings the living fruit heritage to the precint,
has begun.
The suggestion to hold a fruit festival came from Ashok Mogu Naik, now the
first Mayor of Panaji City. Very few people know that he served in the Forest
Department at Dandeli, the place famous for the Bison River rafting. Trees are
close to his heart. To the Botanical Society of Goa members, trees are life.
Something fruity, got to be fresh and juicy. The Botanical Society of Goa, the
Panaji City Corporation, the Directorate of Agriculture , the Indian Council
for Agricultural Research-Goa Research Centre [ICAR-Goa], the University of
Agricultural Sciences, Dharwar[Karnataka State] and the Regional Fruit
Research Station, Vengurla[ RFRS-Vengurla] of the Konkan Krishi Vidyapeet,
Dapoli[Maharashtra State] have joined hands to bring the freshest fruits to
you in a myriad of shapes, colours, flavours and aroma, all at one place and
without a roof. The fest is open-to-sky and open to all. No limits.
Wise men have come with gifts of fruits from all over the Konkan. Dr. M.R.
Dinesh, the Senior Scientist in fruit crops at Indian Institute for
Horticulture Research (IIHR) came with sixteen varieties of mangoes
commercially grown at the National level. Dr. Mokashi, Dr. Basavaraj and Dr.
S.G. Angadi brought mango, guava and chickoo/Sapota from University of
Agricultural Sciences-Dharwad. Dr. V.N. Sawant and Dr. Pujari brought the
famous Hapus (Alphonso), Sindhu, Ratna and other mango varieties from
RFRS-Vengurla of the Konkan Krishi Vidyapeet[ Konkan Agriculture University].
They also brought Amrita Kokum, Jamun, aonla, chickoo and other fruits.
Goa is not lagging behind. The Directorate of Agriculture has exhibited a
range of fruits, including the Jack of all fruits and, Bishop -the Father of
mangoes. It has looked beyond its farms on to the
orchards of progressive growers. With an impressive extension network
throughout Goa, the Directorate has no peer in its reach to the farmers.
Veterans like Jaisinghrao Rane Prabhakar Keni and Shrihari Kurade have brought
tens of fruit varieties to the show.
There are 198 entries from 79 competitors from all over Goa. They include
aonla, kokum, bilimbi, carambola, guava, chickoo, papaya, jack fruit,
pineapple, cashew, mango, karvanda, jammun, watery rose apples and the
not-so-common sour sops, mangosteen, lakoocha (Vomt) godkam, egg fruit (Diospyrus)
and West Indian cherry.
Among the mangoes in the competition section are those with unfamiliar names
like ManAthaide, Papayee and Sukari, Mango varieties from other States that
have been grown in Goa, and are at the exhibition include Totapuri (Poly
mango), Ratnagiri Alphonso, Amrapalli, Vanraj, Kesar, Chaussa, Pairi, Ratna,
Hybrid-87, and Langda. The familiar Malcurada, Xavier and rotund Bishop
mangoes are also there.
Rare fruits like Mangosteen (Garcinia mangosteen), Vomt (Artocarpus lakoocha),
Pidkol (Ixora coccinia) and rosavde (Averrhoa Sp) can also be seen in the
Competition Section.
Old man of agriculture and Co-operation in Goa, Jaisingh Rao Rane from
Bicholim has entered 8 types of fruits, Carlos Figueiredo has added eight
fruit entries including “Rosav” Chickoo and West Indian Cherry. Pilar Nature
Farm of Fr.Inacio Almeida, sfx, has 17 entries and is the competitor with the
largest number of entries. What’s more, all the fruits are grown on organic
manures with EM Technology.
Prabhakar Keni has exhibited the Cashew selection made from his trees. It is
tentatively called Balli-2 by ICAR-Goa, after the locality where the mother
tree grows at Balli- Cuncolim. Hugo Chico has included 4 mango entries. He has
earlier won the “Mango of the show” award for his Hilario mango at Bangalore
in 1985 and Goa in 1987. However, this variety has just begun to mature and no
ripe fruit is available now.
The ICAR –Goa has showcased fruits of 35 Goan mango varieties from the
collection planted by P.A. Matthew. Everyone who is connected to fruits in Goa
knows the unassuming Matthew who worked hard, but silently. Only his book
“Mangoes of Goa” published by ICAR speaks for him. The mango tree collection
is a living testimony to his work for a dozen years in Goa before he returned
to the land of spices at Kozhikode, Kerala. Dr. S.P Singh has now donned his
mantle.
The taste of the pudding is in its eating. Traditional fruit vendors will seat
on their ancient seat of power, the sopo. Fransico Martins [popularly known as
Fankito] has re-created the old market place for you. You can buy mangoes and
Jamblam and bibbe [ raw cashew kernels] and chickoo straight from the pantem.
The jack fruit on-a-rope, the xell, or basket of mangoes, being lowered from
the tree at harvest, the thatched houses, the giant cut-outs of fruits and the
over-powering aroma of ripening fruit will create the rustic ambience of a
fruit garden and sale point.
More that just a leisurely treat, the fruits will be the subject of three
different types of competitions: eating, carving and dressing. Everyday from 5
to 6 pm there will be a fruit eating competition. On Friday you can chew, suck
or eat mangoes of your choice. The fruits will be weighed before and the
remains weighed after eating. Viva la biggest difference in weight. Do not run
away from the competition. You can run after the show to lose those calories.
You can carve watermelons on Saturday at noon. Fancy dressing like a fruit ?
You could be round like a limboo and watermelon, or long like a banana and
poly mango. You could dress like a slice if you do not want to be whole.
Remember Robinson Crusoe? Well fancy dress for men is on Friday. The ladies
can flash colour on Saturday but Sunday is for the Tiny Tots (2 yrs to 6
years). You could lie about their age, but remember that kids say the
darn’dest things when you least expect. Enter over-aged children at your own
risk and cost.
Miguel Braganza.
Convenor, KFF 2003
1st KFF and the venue for the 3rd
KFF.[pic4], old GMC building[pic5], traditional brass band in Goa[pic7]
Photo pic9 shows the Chairman of the 3rd KFF, Dr. Ajit Shirodkar, between the
then Governor Sahani and his wife,Vimala. Dr. H.Y.Karapurkar can be seen ahead
of all three.
pic8 shows the dignitaries on the dais for the inauguration of the 1st KFF[L
to R] Dr.Waman M.Khade-Director of Agriculture, Dr.V.S.Korikanthimath-Director
of ICAR-Goa, Governor, Dr.H.Y.Karapurkar,
President of BSG, Shri Ashok Naik, Chairman of PMC[now CCP], Christina de
Souza, Secretary of BSG and Fr.Paul Sagayam,MSFS, receiving a certificate.
pic 10 shows the ICAR display with Sr.Scientist[Hort], Dr.S.P. Singh in the foreground, during the Governor's visit to the stall.
photographs of the first and second KONKAN
FRUIT FEST. The 1ST.
KFF was inaugurated by the then governor of Goa,H.E. Kidar nath Sahani
[pic16 with wife and Director of Agriculture]on 09
May,2003 while the 2 nd KFF was inaugurated by the then Chief Secretary of
Goa Shri Dev Singh Negi, IAS.[pic14 with pouch in hand and pic 15 with the
organising committee members]]
KONKAN FRUIT FEST
9 –11 MAY, 2003
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF CONVENOR’S REPORT
The idea of conducting a Fruit Festival was mooted by Mr. Ashok Mogu Naik, Chairman of Panjim Municipal Council [PMC] on 01 December 2002 at the Plant Utsav [Festival]. It was immediately accepted by the Executive Committee of the Botanical Society of Goa or BSG.
« On 23 January 2003. The BSG E.C. met and nominated Dr. H.Y. Karapurkar as the Chairman and Miguel Braganza as the Convenor. Mr. Ashok M. Naik would be requested to be the Patron.
« On 29 January the BSG E.C. met to discuss the Fruit Show. A.J. Gomes (BSG Secretary) and Miguel called on Mr. Sanjit Rodrigues, Chief Officer of PMC and it was agreed to hold the Konan Fruit Fest at F.L. Gomes garden, Campal – Panjim. Mr. Ashok.M. Naik concurred
« Between 1 & 24 February, 2003, Directorate of Agriculture, ICAR–Goa, Forest Dept, Tourism Dept., Agriculture Universities and Research stations, NGOS, Farmers’ Co-operatives and corporate units involved in fruit crops were contacted personally by the Convenor and by email/courier/post to co-organize the Konkan Fruit Fest. Positive response was received from many agencies.
« On 28 February,2003 the BSG E.C. met to finalize the constitution of the Organising Committee with the inclusion of the nominees of the collaborating/co-organising agencies. List of members finalized. The decision of 23 Jan. to hold competitions only of edible fruits grown in the Konkan and limit coconut and cashew nut to exhibition only was confirmed. Processed fruit products and by-products would also not be in the competition category. It was decided to hold the seminars backed by PowerPoint/LCD presentations at the venue itself for the convenience of the participants. Registration of participants and competitors would be completed by end of April 2003.
« Logo for the Konkan Fruit Festival would be created by commissioning a professional agency. The logo would be used on all promotional material.
« A Resource Book on Fruit crops will be published with contributions from members of collaborating agencies and experts in the crops.
« The refreshments at the venue will consist of fruits and fruit products (non-aerated)
« Demonstrations in grafting and fruit processing will be held at the venue.
« Farmer-to-farmer interaction will be promoted through workshops and group discussions with experts as moderators.
« A meeting of the Organizing Committee will be convened in the first half of March 2003
Miguel Braganza
Convenor