Orange festival returns to Manipur's Tamenglong, reviving growers’ livelihoods

The return of the state-level orange festival to Tamenglong district has brought renewed economic hope to hundreds of orange growers after a two-year break caused by the conflict in Manipur.

 

The 18th edition of the festival began on December 17 at the district mini stadium and will culminate today. Organised by the Manipur government, the event aims to strengthen the livelihood of local farmers while projecting Tamenglong as a tourism destination built around its GI-tagged orange.

 

For growers, the festival’s revival is more than a cultural event. It provides a crucial market platform at a time when selling produce has remained difficult. Several farmers running stalls said the festival allows them to sell oranges directly to consumers without middlemen, something that was largely impossible during the hiatus.

 

While the mood remains positive, participation is lower than in previous years. Growers attributed the reduced footfall to ongoing law and order concerns that have prevented visitors, particularly from Imphal, from attending. Many said the festival would have carried greater meaning if people from all parts of the state could freely take part.

 

Additional District Magistrate Chunglenmang Kipgen said attendance so far has been encouraging, with visitors arriving from different districts. He acknowledged criticism from earlier editions that cultural showcases, such as the orange queen contest, had overshadowed farmers’ concerns. This year, officials deliberately shifted focus towards growers by expanding farmer-centric programmes.

 

Alongside sales stalls, the festival features seminars on orange cultivation to improve farming skills and productivity. Cultural and recreational events have also been broadened, including performances by eight bands from Manipur and other states, art and literature programmes, indigenous wrestling, land and water sports, trekking, camping and expeditions to Tharon Cave.

 

A civil society leader from Tamenglong said the festival has historically played a key role in promoting sustainable orange farming and tourism in the district. He expressed hope that the event would help Tamenglong oranges reach wider national and international markets in the coming years.

 

Tamenglong orange received the Geographical Indication tag in 2017 and accounts for more than half of Manipur’s total orange production. With growing emphasis on organic cultivation, it remains a vital source of income for farmers across the district.