Preparations for 14th National Hemja Potato Festival in Final Stages

Pokhara. Preparations for the 14th edition of the 'National Hemja Potato Festival,' scheduled to be held in Hemja, Pokhara from Chaitra 27 to Baishakh 5, have reached the final stages. The organizer, Bishnupaduka Club, has intensified efforts to ensure the festival is conducted in a grand and orderly manner.

The club held a special meeting on Saturday, chaired by the main organizing committee coordinator Basanta Kumar Shrestha, to review the progress made so far. During the meeting, coordinators of various sub-committees presented their performance reports.

The organizers concluded that they are receiving positive support and goodwill from all sectors for the festival. A press conference will be held on Chaitra 23 at 1:00 PM at the club building located at the Bishnupaduka playground to provide detailed information about the event.

Basanta Kumar Shrestha, coordinator of the main organizing committee and president of the club, claimed that the Hemja Potato Festival has now become a brand not just for Pokhara, but for the entire country. He stated that the festival, which aims to directly encourage farmers, will promote potatoes and fresh vegetables produced in Hemja at both national and international levels. The main objectives of the festival are to establish Hemja as a commercial agricultural tourism hub, complete the construction of the multi-purpose club building, and build a vegetable collection and distribution center. Former club president Ramesh Karki and immediate past president Subin Shrestha emphasized the need to learn from past shortcomings and bring more innovation to this year's festival.

This year, the festival is being organized under the slogan 'Let's go to the beautiful place Hemja, let's eat delicious potato dishes: One potato, many dishes.' The main attractions of the festival will include a large exhibition of potatoes and fresh vegetables, the construction of a mountain of potatoes, and various delicious potato-based dishes.

Additionally, the organizers have announced that special arrangements will be made for soil and plant testing and disease diagnosis for visiting farmers. Furthermore, throughout the festival, there will be agricultural tableau competitions, recognition of outstanding farmers, exhibitions of seeds and agricultural machinery, and musical and cultural performances by popular artists to entertain the audience.