Participants during the sharpest machete competition held at Wokha Public Ground on October 24.
Morung express News
Wokha | October 24
The inaugural edition of the Banana Festival, a three-day celebration of innovation and agri-entrepreneurship, concluded at the Wokha Public Ground on October 24 with competitions, informative sessions, and the signing of key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen the district’s banana value chain.
The festival, themed “Banana for Food, Fibre and Future,” featured an array of engaging activities including a banana-eating contest, fruit salad-making competition, best banana bunch contest, fancy dress and costume competition inspired by bananas, a quiz competition on banana cultivation and nutrition for school students, and the much-anticipated Sharpest Machete contest.
Technical sessions held throughout the event focused on three crucial aspects of banana farming — input and disease management, value addition, and marketing and sales strategies. These sessions provided a platform for farmers, entrepreneurs, and agri-experts to exchange knowledge and explore sustainable practices to boost productivity and profitability.
The final day witnessed a turnout for the sharpest machete competition, which saw participation from 17 contestants, including two women. Participants were judged based on the number of clean, successful chops made.
Chombenthung Tsopoe, who had earlier secured the title in the banana-eating contest, emerged as the winner of the machete competition. Renphamo Tsanglao and Yanthungo Tsopoe were declared the first and second runners-up respectively.
Prizes were presented by Anuranjan Singh, Skill Development Officer, Wokha; James Ezung, District Welfare Officer; and Myingthungo Kikon, General Manager of DIC Wokha. The competition was supervised by Team Metamorphosis, a local NGO dedicated to youth and community development initiatives.
More than 100 exhibition stalls showcased a diverse range of banana species and varieties, alongside agri-machinery and equipment such as banana fibre extraction units. The festival also recognised excellence in various categories, including Best Stall and Best Value Addition, with winners receiving cash awards, certificates, and agricultural machinery.
The Banana Festival 2025 concluded on a high note with the signing of MoUs between the district administration and several institutions aimed at developing marketing platforms, capacity building, and skill training for farmers. These partnerships are expected to play a pivotal role in transforming banana cultivation in Wokha and beyond through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable agricultural practices.
