Banana Festival 2025, a three-day celebration held under the theme “Banana for Food, Fibre and Future,” concluded on October 24 at Wokha Public Ground with an array of competitions, exhibitions, and technical sessions highlighting innovation in banana cultivation and value addition.

The event featured diverse activities including a banana-eating contest, fruit salad-making competition, best banana bunch contest, fancy dress and costume competition themed on bananas, a quiz competition on banana cultivation and nutrition for students, and a Sharpest Machete contest.

Technical sessions during the festival centred on three key areas — input and disease control, value addition, and marketing and sales strategies — aimed at equipping farmers and entrepreneurs with practical knowledge for sustainable banana farming.

The final day witnessed an enthusiastic turnout for the Sharpest Machete contest, which saw participation from 17 individuals, including two women. Winners were determined based on the number of successful clean chops.

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Chombenthung Tsopoe, who had earlier clinched the title in the banana-eating contest, once again emerged victorious, securing first place. Renphamo Tsanglao and Yanthungo Tsopoe were adjudged first and second runners-up respectively.

Prizes were handed over 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 based in Wokha.

Over 100 exhibition stalls were set up, displaying a wide range of banana species and varieties, as well as equipment such as banana fibre extraction units. Awards were presented for Best Stall, Best Value Addition, and other categories, with winners receiving cash prizes, certificates, and agricultural machinery.

The Banana Festival 2025 culminated with the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the district administration and various institutions to promote marketing platforms and provide skill training for farmers. These collaborations are expected to enhance capacity building, innovation, and sustainable agricultural practices, potentially transforming the banana farming landscape in Wokha and beyond.