Panaji: Jan.25,2016 …. The Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar has said that the Goan cashew feni is a special and unique in nature is needed to be preserved as heritage drink. Therefore he appealed to the stakeholders of feni to come out with clear and articulated vision for further development of feni.
Shri Parsekar was speaking as Chief Guest at Stakeholders meet for the Development of Feni organized by Department of Excise in collaboration with The Goa Cashew feni Distillers and Bottlers Association and All Goa Toddy Tappers Association at Taleigao Tiswadi taluka recently.
Shri Parsekar further said that the Government has acquired GI status for feni in the year 2009 no further work has been done for the development of feni. He said feni is not a mere liquor but it has medicinal values and therefore cashew and coconut tree are part of our culture. He also said this meeting will prove as a mile stone to establish authenticity and uniqueness of feni for which proper roadmap needs to be prepared with co-efforts of Stakeholders of feni and the Government he reiterated.
Smt. Shatbhi Basu,writer and Mixologist in her keynote address called for the joint efforts to ownership of feni and said that feni can be projected as spirit of Goa. most of the countries in the world have established their ownership over the liquor produced in their by them. The same can be done in Goa with the cooperation of the stakeholders.
Ex-MLA Shri Gaspar Afonso, Member Toddy Tappers Association, Shri Michael D’Souza ,Addl. Secretary Finance also spoke on the occasion.
Shri Benjamin Silva MLA Velli, Shri Narahari Haldankar, and traditional feni distillers, staff of excise were among those who attended the function.
Shri Menino Desouza Commissioner Department of Excise welcomed the guests.
The function was compered by Shri Pradip Naik while Shri Mc Vaz President of the Goa Cashew Feni Distillers Association proposed the vote of thanks.
Earlier, Shri Parsekar also inaugurated ‘Sankalp Sohala’ organized by Goa Marathi Academy in the presence of Dr. Praksh Vazarikar, Director of Official Language, Dr. Ashok Kamat, Shri Anil Samant, President Marathi Academy Shri Shashank Thakur MS Goa Marathi Academy and others.
