Surajit and Barasha accept the Green Frames short film award at an event held on in Bhopal on March 5.
Guwahati, March 5 (MExN): Guwahati journalists Barasha Das and Surajit Sharma won the Best Film award at the ‘Green Frames: VATAVARAN Short Film Competition and Festival 2023’ for their documentary ‘Mountain Agriculture Marvel’ showcasing a unique agriculture practice in Nagaland.
The duo won the award in ‘Professional Filmmakers & Film Studios’ category for their work for Mongabay-India.
The award was presented by Centre for Media Studies (CMS), with support from the US Consulate General, Mumbai.
The duo received the award at the festival held in Bhopal on March 5.
As per a press release, the festival recognises best work in “environmental preservation and climate advocacy” and underscores the urgency of environmental/biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation/mitigation, demonstrating the impact of lifestyle decisions on the environment.
Das and Sharma’s documentary focused on ‘Ruza’ – a traditional water harvesting system in Kikruma village in Nagaland’s Phek district.
The Ruza method involves impounding runoff water in ponds, utilizing gravity-based irrigation. Positioned at a higher elevation, the water harvesting ponds are linked to fields at lower elevations through narrow drains, the release said.
Developed to combat water scarcity and ensure successful harvests for nearly a century, this indigenous knowledge system facilitates integrated farming, including forestry, horticulture, agriculture, fishery, and animal husbandry, it added.
Surajit and Barasha dedicated the award to the Chakhesang farmers of Kikruma.
Talking about the win, Das said the film aimed to shed light on the remarkable agricultural practices in Nagaland, specifically the ‘Ruza’ water harvesting system in Kikruma village.
“This recognition reinforces the importance of showcasing sustainable solutions for environmental challenges and encourages us to continue contributing to the discourse on environmental preservation and climate advocacy,” she opined.
For Sharma, the film not only captures the beauty of Nagaland’s traditional water harvesting but also emphasises the need for sustainable agricultural practices.
“We are grateful to Mongabay-India for providing a platform to share these stories, and we hope our work inspires others to explore and adopt eco-friendly solutions for a more sustainable future,” he added.
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