Aizawl: Mizoram has launched its first Pluck and Pay Festival, offering visitors an opportunity to visit selected farms and orchards in Khawzawl district, harvest fresh produce and purchase it directly from local growers.
The three-day festival, jointly organised by the Tourism Department and the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Khawzawl, was inaugurated at Vanhnuailiana Hall in Tualte on Wednesday. Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar attended the inaugural programme as the chief guest.
The festival is being held in Tualte and Chawngtlai from September 23 to 25, with the objective of promoting farm-based tourism while showcasing the agricultural potential and natural attractions of the district.
Under the initiative, visitors can access selected farms and orchards, including three kiwi orchards, five passion fruit orchards and five tomato farms in Chawngtlai. In Tualte, two passion fruit orchards, five banana plantations, five tomato farms and two bean farms have been identified for visitors.
Addressing the inaugural programme, Hmar said Mizoram’s natural environment, forests and agricultural resources were among the state’s important tourism assets. He welcomed the initiative as a means of showcasing the state’s natural beauty and agricultural production.
He also noted that the festival was being organised without single-use plastic and said similar environmentally sustainable festivals could be promoted in the future. He further highlighted the cooperation between different government departments in organising the event.
The minister encouraged visitors from outside Mizoram to attend the festival and also urged residents of the state to explore and appreciate its natural and cultural attractions.
Khawzawl Deputy Commissioner K. Vanlalthiana, who is also chairman of the organising committee, said the festival represented an important development in promoting tourism in Khawzawl district. He thanked the departments involved as well as the village councils of Tualte and Chawngtlai for their participation.
Khawzawl Additional Deputy Commissioner K. Zorammuana, co-chairman of the organising committee, presented the festival report and outlined the farms and other activities being made available to visitors.
According to the Horticulture Department, tomato cultivation began to be promoted in Tualte around 2019. More than 200 households have since taken up tomato cultivation, producing more than 1 lakh quintals of tomatoes and generating an income of over Rs 14 crore, according to department figures.
During 2025-26, 151 households in Tualte were selected for passion fruit cultivation under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
In Chawngtlai, passion fruit cultivation was taken up by around 10 households as early as 1995. Despite challenges over the years, cultivation has subsequently been revived, with the number of growers increasing.
Organised tomato cultivation in Chawngtlai began around 2020. More than 120 households are currently engaged in tomato cultivation, and over 8,000 quintals of tomatoes have been sold so far, generating an income of more than Rs 4 crore, according to the department.
The District Agriculture and Horticulture offices are also displaying agricultural initiatives and locally produced commodities during the festival.
A Block Mela is being organised jointly by the Block Mission Management Unit, Mizoram State Rural Livelihoods Mission, Khawzawl RD Block and NABARD.
The festival also includes activities intended to promote the area’s historical, cultural and natural attractions. Visitors can explore sites including Pathian Tlang, Nikuala Lungdawh, Zo Hill Station and Pasaltha memorial sites with the assistance of local organisations.
The Zawlkhaw Adventure Club is conducting zipline activities, while traditional Mizo sports and recreational activities have also been organised.
Stalls displaying agricultural produce and products made by local artisans have been established at Chawngtlai. An evening concert featuring Mizo artistes is also scheduled as part of the festival.
The festival is being conducted with the participation of various government departments, village councils and local communities from Tualte and Chawngtlai.
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