MIRPURKHAS: Cash rewards and prizes were given away to nine best growers of mango and fruit varieties at the 55th National Mango and Summer Fruit Festival held here recently.

Adviser to the Chief Minister on Agriculture Manzoor Hussain Wassan distributed the cheques and prizes to top three winners in A, B and C categories.

MNAs Mir Munawar Ali Khan Talpur and MNA Shamim Aara Panhwer; MPAs Syed Zulfikar Ali Shah and Noor Ahmed Khan Bhurgari, Agriculture Secretary Aijaz Ahmed Mahesar, Mirpurkhas Commissioner Shafique Ahmed Mahesar, Deputy Commissioner Zainul Abideen Memon, former district council chairman Mir Anwer Ali Khan Talpur and notables including Raees Ghulam Qadir Marri and Darya Khan Marri, besides officials of the departments concerned attended the ceremony.

Earlier, chairman of the festival committee Haji Umer Bughio welcomed the distinguished guests and participating growers to the event. A large number of visitors were also present.

In the ‘A’ category, the first prize was given to Nawazabad Farm, second prize to Arif Khan Bhurgari Farm and third prize to Mohammad Hussain Palh Farm. In the ‘B’ category, the first prize was claimed by Irshad Ali Bhurgari Farm, second prize by Maqbool Memon Farm and third prize by Allah Bachayo Rajpar Farm.

In the ‘C’ category, the first, second and third prizes were clinched by Ghulam Mohammad Marri Farm, Rasheed Mohammad Rajput Farm and Qurban Ali Lashari Farm, respectively.

Speaking to the audience, Manzoor Wassan congratulated the winners and also appreciated performance of all other fruit growers who had put their produce on display at the festival.

He observed that the festival might have drawn attention of many more importers and local traders had it been held in Karachi. He advised the organising committee to consider shifting of the annual event to that metropolis and publicise it at international level.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2023