As part of capacity building measures, NEN Meghalaya organized an exposure visit of six NEN Trained Community Women Leaders and Farmers and two NEN Core Staff members to NEN Office at Chizami, Nagaland, from 25 October 2021 to 02 November 2021
The group attended the NEN Farm School organized by NEN, Chizami from the 28th October 2021 to 31st October 2021. The team were introduced to the work of NEN, Chizami, and a visit was made to the livelihood initiative Chizami Weaves where they were able to perceive and appreciate how methods of traditional weaving and yarn are being revived.
Through the Farm School, the team of NEN Meghalaya developed understanding on Local, sustainable Food System and the importance of food sovereignty and the role of indigenous people in contributing to sustainable food systems. A session on understanding soil was steered by a Community Elder of Chizami, where varieties of soil were displayed and the importance, uses and characteristics of each was explained. Practical sessions on Vermi-composting and Nursery Management were also facilitated. This was a hands-on training where the participants were taught how to make vermi-compost and the use of coco-peat in soilless agriculture. The team also made a visit to the Farmers’ market and also took part on an agro-biodiversity walk to the jhum, terrace and forest areas to explore the varieties of cultivated and uncultivated plants, fruits, herbs and fodder found in the fields. Sessions on livelihood security was facilitated where an understanding on backyard poultry and food processing was taught. The team got to experience creation through a story-telling session shared by village elders and were delighted by folksongs presented by a group of women from Chizami. At the end of the farm school, the team attended a church service and visited the community seed bank located in the Chizami’s Women Society Hall.
