Awareness workshop on ‘Organic Food and Farming’ held in Pfutsero Town
Pfutsero, October 17 (MExN): An awareness workshop on ‘Organic Food and Farming’ was organised by North East Network (NEN) and Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in Pfutsero Town on October 17. Altogether, 112 participants comprising farmers, Pfutsero Town Council members, representatives of Phek District Farmers’ Union, colony chairmen, church leaders, youth members, staff members of SDAO and SEWA members attended the programme.
Programme Manager of NEN Nagaland, Wekoweu Tsuhah, in her keynote speech highlighted that traditionally agriculture in Nagaland has always been subsistence and organic, however, in recent years this trend is changing due to the shift towards commercial agriculture thereby compelling farmers to use external inputs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides and weedicides. “This poses a serious concern for people’s health as well as environmental health, and needs to be curbed without further delay with the active participation of diverse stakeholders including the State, local authorities, CSOs, NGOs and farmers,” she stated, according to a press release.
Dr. Ibomcha Singh (Regional Manager, One Cert Asia), the resource person, presented on the impact of chemical fertilizers and pesticides terming the impact as a slow poisoning to humans, animals and the environment. He said that use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and weedicides degrades the soil fertility, pollutes water resources, destroys biodiversity, and most of all negatively impacts humans’ health. Specifically referring to impact on human health, Dr. Singh outlined that harmful residues of agro-chemicals causes cancer, skin diseases, paralysis, sterility, vision impairment, genetic disorders etc. He added that it is very unfortunate when DDT is still being used against malaria prevention when it is already banned internationally by WHO. A film titled ‘Slow poisoning of food in India’ which presents the experience of farmers dealing with the aftermath of chemical usage was screened. Urging the farmers to take up organic farming for sustainable agriculture, he also informed about the certification agencies and the process. The resource person also briefly presented on One Cert Asia, a certification agency on organic food, its services and activities.
In the open discussion that followed the presentation of the resource person, participants raised concern about the flooding of agro-chemicals in the market and the absence of regulatory mechanisms at the local and the State level. While sharing with each other their rich knowledge and experiences of developing and using bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides in their fields, they also articulated the need for State support to set up bio-fertilizer units at local levels, the need for producers and consumers’ education, capacity building and marketing linkage for organic kiwi fruits, among others, the press release stated.
Earlier, Subotola Aier, Programme Associate, NEN delivered the welcome and introductory note. A vote of thanks was proposed by Akhrole Chirhah, Field Mobilizer, SEWA Phek district.
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