The 15th Thanamir Apple Festival was held at Thanamir village, Pungro, Kiphire, on September 10, 2024, with the theme “Apple for Health, Wealth, and Prosperity.” The event was organized by the Thanamir Village Council in collaboration with the District Horticulture Office, Kiphire, under Pungro. The Minister for Women Resource Development and Horticulture, Salhoutuonuo Kruse, attended as the Special Guest.
In her speech, Minister Salhoutuonuo Kruse shared her joy at witnessing the event and expressed admiration for the village and its citizens. She also acknowledged the festival’s host, MLA & Advisor Kiusumew, for inviting her as the Special Guest. While Thanamir village is renowned for its apples, she encouraged the villagers to plant more apple trees and increase production to benefit from these initiatives. She assured the villagers that the Department of Horticulture is prepared to assist, even with market expansion, and promised to provide an apple processing unit in Thanamir through the department. She also highlighted the health benefits of consuming apples.
The Guest of Honour, W. Chingang Konyak, Advisor for Geology & Mining and DUDA, emphasized that Thanamir village is located in a mineral-rich district and urged the villagers to prioritize the sustainable use of these resources for human development. He stressed that road infrastructure and education are crucial for social development, urging the citizens to focus on these areas.
Advisor for Fire and Emergency Services, Home Guard & Civil Defence, and Rehabilitation, S. Kiusumew, welcomed the Special Guest and Guest of Honour, expressing sincere gratitude for their journey from Kohima to attend the festival.
Chairman of the Thanamir Village Council, Tsechimong, submitted a representation to the Directorate of Horticulture requesting the establishment of a Horticulture Research Centre (HRC) in Thanamir village under Kiphire District. He also discussed the varieties of apples grown in the village and the significance of the fruit to the community.
In addition to apples, the village produces various fruits in large quantities, including persimmons, kiwis, pears, strawberries, yacons, plums, wild apples, silverberries, Myrica rubra, sumacs, and indigenous wild fruits. Thanamir is the leading block (Aspirational Block) of Kiphire District. Neighboring villages such as Fakim, Salomi, Penkim, Khongsa Town, Khong, Tsundang, and Vongtsuvong also produce high-quality apples on a large scale.
The Director of Horticulture, Kohima, the Deputy Commissioner of Kiphire, and the DHO of Kiphire also attended the program as Guest Speakers.