‘Small but mighty: Our millets, our Identity’

August 7, 2024 14 Views No Comment

4th millets festival celebrated at Shamator town

SHAMATOR, AUGUST 7 (MExN): The 4th Millets Festival under the theme “Small but mighty: Our Millets, Our Identity” was celebrated at the public ground, Shamator Town on August 6. The event was organised by Self Employed Women Association (SEWA) Shamator in collaboration with North East Network (NEN) and Millet Network of India (MINI).

Over 300 participants from 9 villages and 11 wards under Shamator town attended the festival, along with representatives from various government departments, NGOs, community leaders and elders, a press release issued by NEN informed.

Speaking on the journey of Millets Festival in Shamator, K Esther, Convenor of the Millet Festival Committee shared that during the challenging year of 2020, when Covid-19 global pandemic hit, Shamator town faced food scarcity.

Families struggled due to imposition of restrictions on mobility, lack of food supplies, poor road conditions and inaccessibility. It was during this crisis that members of SEWA decided to re-evaluate their food systems and take collective action.

With millet seeds donated by communities from Chassir, Rurur and Leangkonger village, SEWA embarked on its millet journey. In 2021, the first millets festival was organised with the goal of raising awareness about the cultural, ecological, economical, health and nutritional significance of millets. Since then, August 6 has been officially designated as Millets Festival Day by the Yimkhiung Tribal Council.

In his keynote address, Y Nuklu Phom, Chairman of Lemsachenlok Society highlighted, “we are failing to understand the importance of sustainability but rather seeking subsidies – what we get for free.”

He emphasized on the need to reduce market dependency and government subsidies by focusing on the model of 3 C’s- Conduciveness of Soil, Crop Compatibility and Climate adaptability while adding that as farmers, understanding and practicing the 3 C’s is crucial for sustainability.

Nuklu urged farmers to make informed and wise choices when new crops are introduced. He stated that “while we are all chasing newly introduced crops for our land, we are losing our own indigenous seeds, our identity.” And this, he stated, poses a significant threat to communities’ food security.

Special guest, Chubatemjen, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Shamator highlighted the significance of millets, emphasizing that millets are one of the oldest crops. Once a staple in the communities’ diet, it has gradually been taken over by crops like rice. The DC also stressed the need to create more awareness about millets through training, seminars and partnerships with institutions like state agriculture research stations. Such initiatives will enhance communities’ efforts in cultivating and preserving millets, he said.

A storytelling competition on millets was a part of the festival, where youths representing 9 villages participated. Additionally, the event highlights included a farmers market, an agro-biodiversity display, and cultural performances on millet sowing and harvesting by millet farmers from Muleangkiur village.