Chizami, August 26 (MExN): Community leaders under Chizami Range Public Organization (CRPO) have endorsed collectively seven resolutions to strengthen biodiversity, indigenous food, and farming systems. The leaders are from Chizami, Chizami Town, Enhulumi, Mesulumi, Sumi, and Thetsumi village.
The resolutions, according to a press release from CRPO general secretary, Mekhalo Lohe, are: strengthen and use indigenous methods of manure, revive traditional seeds, strengthen village biodiversity management boards, integrate horticulture farming such as plums, banana and other fruits to improve rural livelihood, and strengthen the community governance over land use with special mention of Jhum cultivation sites.
The communities will adhere to improvise the existing Jhum cultivation practice and will strengthen agro-biodiversity based on collective farming and sustainability, the release stated. Every village, it added, will make an effort to engage young people on food and farming systems through awareness programmes, seminars and social events.
The leaders also affirmed total ban on chemical inputs in the farm lands and restriction of outsiders to explore/extract any natural resources without prior consent of the village councils.
The above resolutions were adopted in a day long discussion on Indigenous Food and Farming System – Challenges and Opportunities at the VTC Hall, NEN Resource Centre, Chizami on August 25. The discussion was organized by CRPO in collaboration with North East Network (NEN).
The inaugural session was chaired by Wekedu Wezah, Vice Chairman, Chizami Town Adhoc Committee and the discussion began with an invocation by Neikhropeu Tsido, Chairperson, Enhulumi Women Society. A note of welcome was delivered by Welhipre Chiero, President, CRPO and exposition to the theme was given by Seno Tsuhah, NEN. In the two technical sessions, deliberations were made around traditional agriculture, livelihood and food security – practices and challenges, and indigenous food and farming systems – the way forward. The sessions were moderated by Mekhalo Lohe and Neitshopeu Thopi.
Panel members of the two sessions included Vetsope Venuh, VCC Thetsumi, Welhite Naro, VCC Chizami, Wenyilo Venuh, VCC Mesulumi, Wekhrope Ngatsi, VCC Enhulumi, Neitelo Rhakho, VCC Sumi, and Kezunyipeu Tsuhah, CWS.
All the speakers acknowledged the benefits of ecological agriculture to the land, soil, water bodies and to the community well-being, the release informed. They also deliberated on the concerns of current scenario of rural populace on livelihoods, youth alienation from farming, climate crisis, depletion of environment, and health related problems owing food habits etc. Stories of resilience and success on plum production of Enhulumi village, millet cultivation of Sumi village and community seed bank of Chizami were shared.
Besides the technical sessions, Stephen Gangmei of NEN introduced a new project titled ‘No One Shall Be Left Behind’. Following this, the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) document were signed by the community leaders present.
