Team Herald

MARGAO: The Konkan Fruit Fest started on Friday at the Ravindra Bhawan lawns and has two rare fruits displayed for the first time with one of them growing only in few places in Goa while the other found mostly in one region of the state.

Miguel Braganza disclosed that the Baobab fruit which is also called Goro Chinch is on display and added that this fruit which is processed naturally is usually had a syrup after adding some sugar. Trees bearing this fruit are found near the Quepem Police Station, at Morjim, Ribandar and Pilar.

The other fruits displayed for the first time is Chafera that looks like the coffee berry but is actually related to the jagama and adao fruit. Chafera is a small berry that is sweet and sour in taste.

The Konkan Fruit Festival at the Ravindra Bhawan lawns has 22 stalls where different fruits and plants can be purchased and there are 22 tables where fruit products and literature is available. The fest that will continue till April 22 is expected to be visited by over 20,000 people.

Of the 22 stalls, Forest Department is occupying two where they have displayed and have saplings of medicinal plants in one stall and other plants including the natural sweetener “Stevia” for sale. Incidentally stevia is used by diabetic patients extensively.

Other government agencies participating are the Goa Agriculture Department, Central Coastal Agriculture Research Institute from Old Goa, the Regional Fruit Research Station at Vengurla, University of Horticultural Sciences Bagalkot.

Among the farmers participating are Caje Almeida Farm from Raia, Green Fingers Nursery from Calangute, Shree Venkateshwara Nursery from Belgaum and Nanu Kalparasa which is selling virgin coconut oil besides coconut oil, vinegar and sugar made from coconut which is advisable for diabetic patients.

The Konkan Fruit Fest is organized by Botanical Society of Goa in collaboration with We for Fatorda this year and is being held in Margao for the first time while earlier it used to be held in Panjim.

President of Botanical Society of Goa Raj Pai Panandikar said even they are surprised with some of the fruits that people get even though this programme had started in 2009 and added that the main purpose of the festival was for people to learn about the local fruits.

Laban D’Souza a progressive farmer from Nuvem officially inaugurated the festival and urged the youngsters to cultivate a passion for growing something. “Once there is a passion to grow something the rest will automatically follow,” he said while adding that the government needed to support the youth.

Usha Sardessai of ‘We for Fatorda’ while pointing out that agriculture is our Identity opined that agriculture should be the primary activity and agreed that youth have to be motivated in agriculture.

Miguel Braganza urged people to visit the stalls and disclosed that two rare fruits are on display for the first time