BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF GOA MIRAMAR - PANAJI [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Christina D'Souza Miguel Braganza Secretary BSG President BSG 982124032 9822982676 The exhibition at the 4th annual KONKAN FRUIT FEST in Panaji was inaugurated by Mr. Tony Rodrigues, Mayor of Panaji,at 10.30 A.M. on Friday 05 May, 2006, in the presence of Sanjit Rodrigues, Dr. H.Y.Karapurkar, Mr.P.G.Kakodkar, Dr.Ajit Shirodkar and other dignitaries at a simple function. The Mayor evinced keen interest in the various exhibits. The Corporation of the City of Panaji is a festival partner in the Konkan Fruit Fest since its inception in 2003. The ICAR-Goa, The Regional Fruit Research Station of KKV at Vengurla, the University of Agricultural Sciences-Dharwad, the Directorate of Agriculture and the Department of Science ,Technology & Environment besides Western Ghats Kokum Foundation, Ravi Mangal Agro Pro Combine, Eco-Green, Self-Help Groups, Rishta, Arolkar Fruit Farm and fruit growers, processors and others have been associated with the event to promote new technologies, techniques and interaction to grow faster through trade. The entries for the fresh fruit competition were judged by an expert panel consisting of Mr. Sanjeev Kadkade[ Head of Dept, Institute of Hotel Management, Porvorim], Ms.Ana Dias e Camara and Mr. Olavio Fernandes, both members of BSG and officers of Goa Directorate of Agriculture. All three judges have long experience in judging fruit quality through organo-leptic tests. the test of the pudding is in the eating! One random fruit was picked up by the judges and tasted to arrive at the final conclusion among the fruits that had good appearance or visual characteristics. The winners are: MANGOES: Malcurada/Mankurad mango 1. Carlos Figueiredo, Santerxeth-Aldona, 2. Balaji Naik, Bicholim, 3.Dattaram L.Shirodkar, Bicholim. 4.Spl. Prize. Nina Figueiredo Other Mangoes: 1 & 2 Balaji Naik, Bicholim 3. Shrihari Naik Kurade, Cuncolim PINEAPPLE 1.Shrihari Naik Kurade, Cuncolim,2.Mahesh Kankonkar, Carambolim,3. Satchit Kamat, Sanquelim JACK Nirmala Pol Khandeparkar, Bordem-Bicholim SOUR SOP [Laxman phal] Sanjeev Mayekar, Bordem-Bicholim PUMELO[Toring] Lala Satarkar, Ponda CHICKOO 1.Carlos Figueiredo, Aldona, 2. Gurunath Naik, Bicholim GARCINIA[Birondam/Kokum] 1.Sakaram V. Kapdi, Bicholim, 2. Damodar Mashelkar, Bicholim and 3. Mahesh Kankonkar, Carambolim STAR FRUIT [ Carambola/Karmal] Gopal M. Parab, Bicholim JAVA PLUM [Jamun/Zamlam] Shrihari Naik Kurade, Cuncolim BANANA 1.Vishwanath Bhat Naik, Bicholim,2. Shalini Y,Thakur, Bicholim MUSK MELON 1.Rohidas Ganesh Satarkar, Ponda. The Fruit Products competition was judged by Mr. Chavan of Institute of Hotel Management-Porvorim and Principal Alphonse Pereira of Fr. Agnelo's HMCT-Verna . The winners are WINES[of fruits other than grapes]: 1 Lumina Lobo, Vady-Siolim 2. Thereza D'Souza Mapusa and 3.Carlos Figueiredo, Snaterxeth-Aldona. JUICES & SQUASHES 1. Sindhu Kamat, Taleigao 2. Lumina Lobo, Vaddy-Siolim 3. Theresa D'Souza, Mapusa PICKLES 1 & 3. Rajani Pai Lotlikar, Caranzalem 2. Meena Gurudas Kenny, Caranzalem JAMS 1.Theresa D'Sousa, Mapusa 2. Nayana Parab, Panaji. CAKES & PASTRIES 1. Noelyn Santos Afonso, Panaji 2. Patsy Pereira, Margao and 3.Juliet Vaz, Mapusa. FRUIT PAPAD/SATTAM 1. Jayant Savoikar In the FRUIT EATING competition with mangoes, papaya, watermelon or banana that one had to eat in 2 minutes there was a large number of entries. Previous bench marks of 1.3 kg mango pulp, 1.65 kg papaya and 2.2 kg watermelon pulp in 5 minutes were bettered. Fruits were weighed before and after the set time to obtain the net weight of the pulp that is eaten. Suresh Naik has been the pace setter last year while Tejesh Talkadkar was the pace setter in 2003.He just could not win all the four fruit categories this time, try though he did! After eating or, rather, hogging 1.100 kg mango pulp in two minutes and as much papaya after a 30 minute break, he had to stop after eating 600g of watermelon. Nizar N.K of Miramar pipped him by eating 1.7 Kg of watermelon and even Neela Pai Bhandare outdid him with 650g watermelon to come third. There was a fruit fancy dress competition at 5.30 P.M. followed by a MAGIC SHOW by Reggie and rocking MUSIC by Newton & Ness. Last year, many persons were disappointed that they could not taste, or even get a whiff of, the Kokum wine prepared under the guidance of a researcher at Goa University. Most people complained but some decided to change the situation. Dr. John Rodrigues of Chichinim, who was formerly doing "Product Development" for Hoechst [Hext] medicines now has four variants of Kokum wine in both ,Sec[dry] and demi-Sec [semi-dry], types. You can smell it, taste it and buy it to drink at home. Carlos Figueiredo of Aldona also hasmade kokum fruit wine for home consumption.He bagged the third prize in the competition. May their tribe increase. In 2003, Lumina Lobo was the sole entrepreneur making sweet cashew wine[doce/douce]. Today she has competition from John Rodrigues and Luis of Saligao who also have cashew wine. She has added a demi-Sec to her list. So have the others. She has added Jamun wine to her list. So have the others. Lumina bagged the first prize for her wine at the competition.In the years to come we are likely to have a lot of sweet summer wine! Demi-Sec and Sec wines will follow because men will be men. Making wine with the end of summer fruits has a distinct advantage over spoiling the fruit. Shivani Arolkar of Kudal is back with mangoes and more...juices and RTD[Ready To Drink] fruit juices [cashew, kokum, mango and amla] for the hot summer afternoons. D'Souza Biotech's Frugurt [fruity yogourt]was a hit last summer at the KFF. It is back at the fest. So are the fresh fruit ice-creams from Sonam's Frosty. Sonam, samja karo. You have sampled the wares of Canancona, Panjim and Pilar Self-Help Groups [SHGs] since 2003. This year the first Federation of 55 SHGs under the name of Disha Rural Women's SHG Association of Anjuna has burst on the scene. On 25 April, Disha SHG Association had a mini-fair cum training session in waste management at Anjuna. The member SHGs had a turnover of about half a lakh rupees in the 4 hour event. Activities range from catering [through Rural Polytechnic scheme] to to beauticians to fashion designing. And you thought that SHGs only make pappads, laddoos and chakri? Dr.Ajit Shirodkar is promoting scientific mango cultivation and packaging to brand "Goa Mangoes" on his own and Kokum cultivation through the Western Ghats Kokum Foundation. He is a Euro GAPs [Good Agricultural Practices] certified Mango grower with an orchard and ripening chamber at Devgad, the home of the best Alphonso and Kesar mangoes. The ICAR-Goa Research Complex promotes new technologies. So also the University of Agricultural Sciences-Dharwad and the Konkan Krishi Vidyapeth's Regional Fruit Research Station-Vengurla. The seeds of change grow on Jatropha curcas, the bio-diesel plant. The Pilar Nature Farm will promote Jatropha for planting along the boundaries as bio-fence and on wasteland to revegetate them while earning good revenue through bio-diesel. Fossil fuel is not going to last forever. Jatropha is not recommended as an alternative to any crop, it is a good supplement in Goa conditions of climate, including labour availability and pilferage. The public public response to the event has been overwhelming. there is a constant flow of persons, and they are asking questions. There is a transfer of technology and knowledge in a festival atmosphere. People can relish the fresh fruit ice-creams, juices, wines, snacks and savouries at the venue. It is cool by the river side after sunset when the music mingles with the cool breeze and the aroma of a thousand fruits. Former Miss World and Bollywood actress, Yukta Mukhey, even made a mention of the Konkan Fruit Fest at the "Bollywood Masti" featuring Shaan last night at the Panaji Gymkhana Grounds. On Sunday, 07 May, 2006, the PRIZE DISTRIBUTION will be at the hands of the Governor of Goa at 4.30 P.M. followed by a demonstration of BALLOON ART by Todd's Balloons and MUSIC by the Fusion Trio Christina de Souza Miguel Braganza Secretary President _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list ([email protected])
