Naga women can show the way
morungexpress on October 25, 2012 03:52:00
In a wonderful gesture of solidarity among Naga women and also showing how
different tribes can live in unity despite the diversity of our tribal identity,
the first ever multi-community Millets Food Festival of Nagaland was organized
in far away Chizami. The Morung Express was there to cover this important
celebration and to highlight it in the media so that many more people can be
inspired. In promoting food sovereignty in Nagaland, the North East Network
(NEN), at their resource centre in Chizami, organized a Millets Food Festival on
August 30, bringing together 120 farmers of Nagaland. The state government needs
to encourage this kind of initiative and also perhaps emulate such kind of work
that goes into showcasing things that are beneficial for people, especially
women folk in this case. That women farmers from Phek, Tuensang, Longleng and
Kohima districts came together to exchange agro-knowledge, presenting to each
other millets-based songs and dances, such kind of work can be replicated on a
larger scale. And as rightly mentioned by Seno Tsühah, Programme Manager of
NEN, in Chizami, “male participants often go to Dimapur or Kohima for
agri-conferences but women farmers, who play a major role in agricultural
production, rarely get an opportunity to share knowledge on agricultural
systems, both traditional and the new methods they apply”.
Indigenous women are actually key actors in poverty and hunger eradication as
was amply demonstrated during the Chizami food festival. Even though the Millet
festival was rural based, low key and without the road show kind of government
publicity where we are witness to more style than substance, what is so
significant and profound about the NEN initiative is the recognition that women
farmers they actually do play a vital role in agricultural and rural
development, including by enhancing food security and nutrition for their
communities and families, which official statistics may miss out on. We need to
tap into the inherent strength of Naga women who are actually more sincere and
hardworking then the average menfolk and to use their wisdom and knowledge
towards sustainable development. The government can rope in groups like the NEN
to conduct similar grass root programmes or even bring it to platforms like the
Hornbill Festival where not only foreign tourists but even Nagas can get to
benefit from the indigenous knowledge and best practices on display.
What was even more inspiring about the get-together of women folk for the
Millet Food festival was the idea of peace, amity and friendship that was
demonstrated by the participants. It was not your big ticket kind of
reconciliation summit where resolutions are carefully prepared and passed or the
photo opportunities to be seen in the next day’s news headlines. It was subtle
yet natural and real—the manner in which one group of womenfolk from a
particular tribe or village exchanged seeds and shared their knowledge with one
another. In more ways than one, such kind of solidarity displayed by our
womenfolk symbolizes the inherent desire of Naga women to bring change and
reformation to our society. And at a time when we are confronted with different
forms of conflict from within, our Naga women can show the way towards promoting
peace and harmony. At a time when our society desperately wants peace in our
troubled land, our womenfolk if given the chance, they can use their God given
gifts to help bring peace in our land.
Original Story: http://www.morungexpress.com/editorial/87376.txt