PANAJI
Member Secretary of the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB), Dr Pradip Sarmokadam, inaugurated the sixteenth Konkan Fruit Fest in the presence of the Director of Agriculture, Nevil Alphonso and office bearers of the Botanical Society of Goa.
The event is being held at the riverside promenade in Panaji after a gap of three years due to the pandemic. Chairman of the KFF Organising committee Raj Pai Panandiker welcomed the dignitaries and the inauguration was done symbolically by opening a basket of local fruits.
At the festival, there are a large number of stalls selling fruits, fruit products, ready to drink juices, fruit milkshakes and also a choice of fruit plants, not easily available all over Goa.
Several competitions were held at the fest which were judged by experts in the respective fields. Some of the winners from the Fruit Products competitions included Maria D' Mello (Juice category), Smruti Pai (Fried products category), Diksha D Phadte (Sweets Dishes category) etc while some winners of the Fresh Fruit Competition included Manoj Timble (Mango: Mancurado category), Martha Braganza (Love Apples category), Bharti J Rane (Papaya category), etc.
The prize distribution and valedictory function will be held at the venue on 15 May from 4 pm for the fresh fruits category. Those who have missed receiving the certification and prize money for the other competitions can receive the same on Sunday by contacting the Treasurer, Priyanka V NaiK at the BSG stall adjoining the exhibition pandal at the venue by 3.45 pm.
