Bitter Story Of Manipur's Prized Lemon

Manipur’s prized Lemon, popularly known as “Kachai Lemon” one of the most sought after of all the fruits grown in Manipur, apparently is not getting enough attention and care it deserves.

- Levion Jimmy

First Words

The uniqueness of the Kachai Lemon is that it has got the highest content of ascorbic acid of all the citrus fruit. According to experts the ascorbic acid content in this lemon is 51 percent with juice content 36-56 ml per fruit.

The unique lemon is found only in a remote village called Kachai in Ukhrul district of Manipur situated at a distance of 47 Km north from Ukhrul town and 131 Km away from Imphal. In 2014, Kachai lemon became one of the ten horticulture products that got the geographical indication (GI) tag in the North eastern region.

Sadly, both the quality and production of Kachai lemon has been decreasing each passing year due to several factors including natural calamities and apathy of the authority concerned.

Cultivators Speak

The Kachai village having over 300 households, alone produces 50 percent of the entire Lemon production of Manipur. The fruit is the main source of income for the village (Kachai) where agriculture is the primary occupation of the villagers.

The main source of in come for 74-year-old Hamring Vashung of Kachai, like every other villager, is lemon cultivation besides cultivating paddy and other seasonal vegetables. He has two sons and two daughters to look after.

Vashung began lemon plantation in the early 60s and grows over hundred lemon trees in his farm which generate an income of about Rs 40 thousands annually. Ranging from children’s education and keeping the kitchen fire burning, the income from lemon though nominal, helped him tremendously, he said while interacting with our correspondent.