IMPHAL, 19 March: Soibam Manitomba Singh, President Kanglei Economy Development Organisation and a journalist by profession was awarded for his valuable contribution and promotion of modern Hi-Tech techniques and good agricultural practices including tissue culture and drip irrigation in banana cultivation in hilly region of Manipur.<\/p>\n
He was felicitated during the international conference on dynamics of technology for quality production of banana held at Maharashtra from 15th to 17th March 2015.<\/p>\n
Soibam Manitomba was awarded by Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse with a citation, memento and a cheque for Rs 51,000. The award was entitled for the year 2013.<\/p>\n
The conference was organised by Jain Irrigation System Ltd and Bhavarlal and Kantabai Jain Multipurpose Foundation.<\/p>\n
Soon after he reached the state, a brief press meet was held at the Kangla Pao office and a welcome ceremony was conducted jointly by Kangla Pao staffs and KEDO members at the said venue.<\/p>\n
In the press meet he said that during his routine work as journalist he was covering a story on distribution of banana seeds and sapling to the beneficiaries, and he requested for some of the seeds and sapling for himself to start a banana cultivation.<\/p>\n
Seeing his enthusiasm, mission director TMNE Kh Ratan Kumar handed him 500 banana seeds, he said.<\/p>\n
With this he started cultivating banana at his 1 acre farm from the seeds he managed to receive from mission director. His successful banana farm was inspected and endorsed in the 2009-10 annual report and hence he was shortlisted for the award he mentioned.<\/p>\n
Manitomba said that all together 14 banana cultivators from India were felicitated during the conference and among them he was the only awardee from the entire North Eastern States.<\/p>\n
He mentioned that participating in the international conference has motivated him more to expand his banana cultivation and also has learnt more about hi-tech cultivation. He said that he is hopeful to spread his banana cultivation in the State.<\/p>\n\n