Dears, The oHERALDo of Monday 08 May had a report on page entitled "Konkan Fruit Fest disappoints many". It had a colour photo of fruits [ not from the KFF] and was highlighted with a yellow background screen. The report itself was rather bland and non-commital except for the comment about the various fruits on display " But nothing for sale." There were indeed choice Alphonso mangoes in 'one dozen' fruit packs with Ravi Mangal Agro Pro Combine and 20-pack Malcurada and 24-pack Kesar mangoes for sale with Arolkar Mango Farm as also local Malcurada fruits by the dozen with two Self-Help Groups led by Pratima Dhond and Amol Morajkar.
The varieties displayed by the University of Agricultural Sciences-Dharwar, ICAR-Goa and Dr.B.S. Sawant KKV's RFRS-Vengurla were obviously not for sale. Some persons may have been disappointed at not being able to take these fruits home. I am sure there are persons who feel likewise when they go for the Lakhme Fashion Week or the Gladrags event and would like to take one of the pretty models home ;-) . Even at the World Trade Mart one does not get a multiple entry visa to the USA or Cayman islands or the Carribean islands, or even a cheap ticket on British Airways to one of these destinations, much as one might want it at that moment. The events are to be benchmarked according to their objectives, not the fantasies of the visitors. The heading of the report is an unfair comment when the Director of ICAR, the Chairman of the Western Ghats Kokum Foundation and the Secretary of the BSG have put in so much effort to bring these institutions to the Konkan Fruit Fest. Had the criticism been directed against me, I would not even have bothered to respond. I have been on record that the oHERALDo is sometimes not original even in its editorial column, let alone its reportage. The comment "...but there is scope for more." can also be applied to the quality of the said report. If one cannot applaud the selfless work done by voluntary organisations and their members working in tandem, one should at least hold one's peace. For the record, the 4th KFF was organised by the BSG and CCP in association with a number of other organisations with the theme TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More. Viva Goa. Miguel _______________________________________________ Goajourno mailing list Goajourno@puggy.symonds.net http://puggy.symonds.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/goajourno
