The United Naga Council, meanwhile, has appealed to all the Nagas not to extend any form of support in organising the Festival.
The 12th Edition of the Manipur’s Orange Festival will be held at Mini Stadium, Tamenglong District Headquarters, about 150 km west of Imphal, on December 9.
The festival is held annually to promote tourism in Manipur and provide an opportunity for orange farmers to display their produce before potential buyers. It also aims to promote orange production by giving awareness on orange cultivation to the farmers.
Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is likely to grace the festival as the Chief Guest.
This year the festival will see various competitions and cultural extravaganzas, including orange eating competition, best orange competition, orange queen contest, display of traditional and customary items, craft exhibition, seminar for orange growers, indigenous games and sports.
Meanwhile, the United Naga Council (UNC) has appealed to all the Nagas and tribal people not to extend any form of support to Chief Minister O Ibobi and his Deputy Chief Minister in organising the upcoming Orange Festival, sponsored by the Government of Manipur.
"The Naga people should not succumb to the appeasement policy of the State government in enticing the people in the guise of organising different forms of festivals in Naga and tribal territory just to fulfil and strengthen their selfish political objectives," a statement issued by the publicity wing of the UNC stated.
The council alleged that crores of rupees sanctioned by the Government of India for horticulture development in Manipur, particularly for Tamenglong District, through the Horticulture Mission of India under the Ministry of Agriculture had been misappropriated without implementation. It also alleged that the Manipur government has not been addressing the rights and interest of the orange growers and this had led to a decrease in production over the years.
Tamenglong accounts for more than 50% of orange production in Manipur and a large part of the district's economy depends on it. Last year, around 350 orange growers participated in the festival.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Oranges on display at 7th Orange festival, Manipur")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}