Phek (Chizami), July 2 (MExN): “I found new respect for farmers who struggle to produce food,” said Anguto Chophy, a student at Patkai Christian College in Dimapur. He transplanted paddy for the first time in his life at the NEN Farm School in Chizami Village.
The 4th edition of the NEN Farm School, initiated by the North East Network, was organized from June 28 and concluded on July 2 in Chizami Village of Phek district. Themed ‘Bridging the Farm-to-Plate Gap,’ the School was attended this year by 22 students from 17 to 21 years of age. They came from eight education institutions in Kohima and Dimapur to participate in the five days’ residential program. This was informed in a press release from Wekoweu Tsuhah, Programme Director, NEN Nagaland.
“In today’s scenario, in a time of chemical based agriculture, there is shortage of organic and healthy food. Thus, it has become critical for us to grow our own food,” said Renbomo Ezung, SDO (Civil), Chizami, in his address at the valedictory session on Tuesday, attended by community leaders, students and staff.
As Special Guest, he challenged the students to take back the learning with them by spreading awareness on the importance of growing and eating organic food, support organic farmers and even start small kitchen gardens.
Students were given certificates of participation. The NEN will conduct its 5th edition of the NEN Farm School in October2019.
Day-by-day
“Become responsible consumers; to value and appreciate the contribution of farmers,” encouraged Seno Tsuhah, Director, NEN Nagaland, in her closing comments.
The NEN Farm School targets young urban students with the objective to reconnect them to their local culture, sustainable food and traditional farming system. The 2019 NEN Farm School emphasized “understanding our natural world and reconnecting to our indigenous food system as an introduction to the farm school.”
The second day saw students being introduced to Soil Health Management and Ecological Farming facilitated by Dr. Esther T. Longkumer, ACTO, Soil Science, KVK- ICAR and Community Knowledge Holder & Farmer Zulhipe Chirhah respectively.
A practical session on vermi-compost was demonstrated followed by a practical session on paddy transplantation in the field to give an understanding of terrace fields which is an integral part of Naga farming.
On the third day, the participants took part in the local Sunday Church service and presented a special number, which was followed by a visit at the Community Seed Bank, an initiative of the Chizami Women Society and NEN.
An interactive session with the Seed Custodians was exchanged with the participants, followed by an introduction to the importance of traditional seed conservation and issues of seed sovereignty by NEN team.
To understand the life of a village, the participants were given the experience of a Mapumo (Community Morung) where seven Community Knowledge Holders, Tasetshulou Kapfo, Wenyilo Naro and Ebamhetho-Kro shared folk songs, and narrated stories on culture, food and seeds.
With a view to understand the traditional farming system, a Participatory Rural Appraisal on cropping patterns in a jhum field was conducted by community knowledge holders Dikhwetsou Wezah and Neipelhiu Edemi on the fourth day.
A visit to the jhum field, biodiversity walk and practical session on foraging wild edibles followed. The five days' programme concluded with a cooking demonstration, highlighting the nutritional benefits of local foods, facilitated by the NEN team, and followed by a valedictory programme.
