Sirarakhong Hathei Promotion Committee on Tuesday announced that the 13th Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli Festival, 2024 would be held for two days, August 29 and 30, at Sirarakhong village in Ukhrul district, Manipur.
“Even the vice president of USA had extended praise on the chilli’s unique flavour profile through an agency,” the committee stated.
Speaking to the media at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal, Sirarakhong village chairman V Ningkhan Zimik highlighted that the celebration of the festival had been halted for four years due to various reasons.
“The COVID pandemic impacted the celebration while on the other hand the rectification of the chilli’s GI tagged nomenclature took longer than expected,” he said.
He noted that the village produced nearly 30 tonnes of chillies but this year it fell down to between 20-25 tonnes.
We are unable to export as per the demands outside Manipur but our current production quantity is enough for Manipur, he added.
Meanwhile, chairman of Sirarakhong Hathei Promotion commitee Nimyui Zimik stated that the nomenclature of the chilli as per the GI tag had been changed from Hathei Chilli Manipur to Sirarakhong Hathei to include it’s place of origin.
MOMA and Manipur Horticulture department extended all possible help in the process, he added.
As such he exhorted all people to promote and support the farmers by taking part in the celebration.
