Dimapur, July 3 (EMN): The NEN farm school, initiated by nongovernmental organisation North East Network (NEN), organised a learning camp for students that was themed around rural farming practices, crop production and organic produce among an extensive list of topics.
The farm school was aimed at young urban-based students to educate them about their local culture, sustainable food and traditional farming systems, the organisers stated.
The residential programme was themed “bridging the farm-to-plate gap” and conducted from June 28 to the 2nd of July at Chizami village in Phek district.
Twenty two students of the age group 17-21 years from Kohima and Dimapur educational institutions participated in the five-day residential programme, a press release on Wednesday from the NEN stated.
At the valedictory session on July 2, Renbomo Ezung, subdivision officer (civil) for Chizami address the event. According to the press release he said that “in today’s scenario, in a time of chemical based agriculture, there is shortage of organic and healthy food.”
“Thus, it has become critical for us to grow our own food,” he said. He challenged the students to take the learning with them to spreading awareness on the importance of growing and eating organic food, and to support organic farmers. They can start even small kitchen gardens, he told the students.
Certificates for participation were given to the students at the event, where community leaders also attended, the updates stated.
A student spoke about his experience at the farm school, the press release stated. Anguto Chophy from Patkai Christian College, who transplanted a paddy sapling for the first time in his life pointed that he has ‘found new respect for farmers who struggle to produce food.’
Seno Tsuhah, director of the NEN also urged the students to “become responsible consumers, to value and appreciate the contribution of farmers.”
The NEN farm school targets young urban-based students with the objective to reconnect them to their local culture, sustainable food and traditional farming systems. The 2019 edition of the NEN farm school emphasised on understanding the natural world and ‘reconnecting to our indigenous food system’ as an introduction to the farm school.
The second day introduced the students to soil health management and ecological farming. A practical session on vermi-compost was demonstrated followed by a practical session on paddy transplantation in the field to give an understanding of terrace fields which is an integral part of Naga farming, the press release stated.
On the third day of the event, the participants took part in the local Sunday church service and sang there. Later, they visited the community seed bank, an initiative of the Chizami Women Society and NEN.
There was an interactive session between the seed custodians with the participants, followed by an introduction to the importance of traditional seed conservation and issues of ‘seed sovereignty,’ the updates stated.
Further, to help the students understand life in the village, the participants were given the experience of a ‘Mapumo’ (community Morung) where seven ‘community knowledge holders,’ spoke about folk songs, and narrated stories on culture, food and seeds.
Again, with a view to understand the traditional farming systems, a session on cropping patterns in a jhum field was conducted on the fourth day, the press release stated.
“A visit to the Jhum field, biodiversity walk and practical session on foraging wild edibles followed. The five days programme concluded with a cooking demonstration, highlighting the nutritional benefits of local foods, facilitated by the NEN team, and followed by a valedictory programme,” the updates added.
The nongovernmental organisation informed that the NEN will be conducting the 5th edition of the NEN farm school in October 2019.
