And even if the sun refused to shine,

Even if romance ran out of rhyme,

You would still have my heart until the end of time,

You're all I need my love, my valentine

- Martina McBride ( My Valentine)

Shillong, Feb. 4: Valentine's Day is synonymous with chocolate, heart-shaped balloons and, of course, the "fruit of love" - strawberries.

So if you're looking for something special to woo your beloved, head towards the picturesque Umiam lake on the eve of Valentine's Day this year for a celebration with music, indigenous food and succulent strawberries.

The Young Minds Association, a group of like-minded youths from Meghalaya's Ri Bhoi district, will hold a daylong programme titled Valentine: Strawberry Festival at the Umiam water sports complex on February 13.

But their intention is not only to invite lovers to revel, but also help farmers engaged in strawberry cultivation.

Apart from relishing the "fruit of love", people attending the festival will also get to taste indigenous food amid the sound of music. While a DJ will be flown in from Mumbai, bands from Shillong and Guwahati will pep up the mood.

Of course, people will be charged an entry fee. According to the association's president, Richard Lyngdoh, there are more than 200 farmers in Ri Bhoi district alone who "love" to cultivate strawberries as it brings handsome returns.

But not everything is rosy for the farmers, Lyngdoh said.

"There are many farmers who have to face problems, like the inability to attain high-quality strawberry seeds, which does affect the cultivation," he said.

The state government is providing support to the farmers.

Lyngdoh said currently strawberries are mainly cultivated at Umktieh, Dewlieh, Sohliya and Raitong. The fruit costs nearly Rs 400 per kg in the retail market and is being marketed mainly in Meghalaya and neighbouring Assam.

The association, however, wants the farmers to increase the yield for better income generation and expanding markets beyond the region.

Hence, Lyngdoh said the association would try to help the farmers by attaining better strawberry seeds.

Strawberries from Ri Bhoi have also found their way to New Delhi, Calcutta and even Dhaka. In fact, Meghalaya is one of the largest producers of strawberries in the country.

A few years ago, rising mercury levels at Sohliya in Ri Bhoi district prompted some farmers to contemplate shifting their nurseries to cooler climes in West Khasi Hills.

Sohliya, which is 46km from Shillong, is perhaps the most prominent strawberry-cultivating area in the state and has been producing the "fruit of love" for over two decades now.