Shamator celebrates 6th Millet Festival on the theme "Grow millets, grow wellness" to boost sustainable farming.
DIMAPUR — The 6th Millet Festival was celebrated at the Shamator Town Public Ground on Thursday on the theme "Grow millets, grow wellness", bringing together farmers, community leaders, government officials, and development organisations to promote millet cultivation, sustainable agriculture, and improved nutrition.
The festival was jointly organised by Millet Sisters, SEWA Shamator District, North East Network (NEN) and the Millet Network of India (MINI), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Social Welfare, Shamator, according to an update received here on Thursday.
Addressing the gathering, special guest Y. Vikheho Swu, President of the NPF Central Farmers' Wing, highlighted millets as a nutritious and sustainable food source and stated that Nagaland has immense potential to expand its production.
Swu, who is also the Managing Director of Okusa Toyota Pvt. Ltd., encouraged farmers to take up millet cultivation as a sustainable and profitable farming, noting that India is the world's largest producer of the crop.
While expressing the importance of passing on traditional jhum cultivation practices and indigenous farming knowledge to the future generations, he urged farmers to adopt modern agricultural technologies to boost output, stating that the state’s new Agriculture Policy would improve the livelihoods of farmers and encourage young people to take up agriculture.
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Swu stressed the need to uphold unity, brotherhood and truth among Naga tribes, lauding the people of Shamator for maintaining harmony with other communities. He also conveyed greetings from Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who is also the president of NPF.
Earlier in the programme, Tsusola, Convenor of Millet Sisters, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the importance of reviving millet cultivation to strengthen food security, improve nutrition and build resilience against climate change, while Wekoweu Tsuha (Akole), Advisor of SEWA Nagaland and Vice President of SEWA Bharat, delivered the keynote address.
Also speaking at the event, L Kivika Chophy, District Agriculture Officer, Shamator, told the gathering that millet was once a traditional staple crop for the Nagas before rice took its place. While admitting the limited attention received from the department, he said that efforts have been made to promote the crop by extending support to millet-growing villages under the National Food Security Scheme. He also encouraged farmers to increase cultivation for both nutritional and economic benefits, informing that Nagaland's millet productivity is higher than the national average of 15-16 quintals per hectare.
Yinsola Yimkhiung of Medical Ward won the highest millet producer award, which was handed over by K Ester, President of Yimkhiung Women Organisation (YWO), informed the update, which added that competition for Millet Baby Food Mixes and Millet General categories was also held at the event.
The annual festival also featured an exhibition-cum-sale of millet products, local produce and traditional crafts, besides a cooking competition.