KOCHI: It might be difficult to emulate Karnam Malleswari’s world title winning feat for India in weightlifting championship, but how about lifting a 50 kg jackfruit. It might be first of its kind for Kochiities.
Thodupuzha based farmers’ organisation, Kerala Agricultural Development Society (KADS) is organising a Green Fest in the city during which competitions like lifting jackfruit, peeling and eating it will be held.
The festival will be held at KADS market near Alinchuvadu near Padivattom from May 13 to 21. “We are organising several kinds of competitions. One of it would be jackfruit weightlifting in which the participant will have to lift a fruit weighing 50 kg.
The participant will have to hold the fruit up for as long as possible. In the other contest, the participant will have to peel a jackfruit quickly. We had conducted a similar competition in Thodupuzha as part of the fest there,” Antony Kandarikal, president of KADS said.
At the fest the new generation will get to know the traditional pottery and stone implements used in kitchens of the old. “We will be conducting a competition in which the participant will have to grind rice in the traditional way in a stone mortar. The winners of these competitions will be given Rs 1,000 as cash prize,” he said.
The star attraction of the fest will be 65 - fifty from Kerala and 15 from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu - varieties of mangoes. “We will ensure that mangoes exhibited and sold at the fest are not chemically treated. Around 50 varieties of mangoes have been brought from Muthalamada in Palakkad. We approached the farmers directly to procure chemical free fruits,” Antony said.
At the fest Ancy Mathew from Pala will be preparing 21 dishes using jackfruit. CADS will also provide vegetable and fruit seeds and seedlings. Seminars on various subjects including organic farming will also be held The entry is free of cost. The fest would be open from 9 am to 9pm.