Dimapur, Oct. 16 (EMN): Commemorating World Food Day, North East Network (NEN), Nagaland, organised a cooking competition for rural youth at its resource centre in Chizami under Phek district on the theme “Grow, nourish, sustain, together”.
An update from NEN stated that the event brought together 65 participants, mostly youth members from Chizami and neighbouring villages. It stated that a total of 11 teams from five villages namely Chizami village, Chizami town, Thetsumi, Enhulumi and Sumi took part in the cooking competition.
In this year’s World Food Day programme, NEN focused on youth in an effort to bridge the growing gap between young people and local food systems. It was an attempt to help the youth understand the significance of local food, rediscover and appreciate traditional recipes, explore and exchange innovative recipes using local ingredients, the update stated.
In her introduction, Wekowe-u Tsuhah, highlighted the significance of World Food Day, which is aimed at creating awareness on healthy lifestyle. Tsuhah challenged the youth participants to reflect on their food choices they make every day, whether the choice they make is healthy and if they are supporting food systems that is sustainable for human and the planet Earth.
“Covid pandemic has taught us a lesson that we can build resilience only if we sustain and strengthen our local food and economic systems,” she was quoted as saying. She further encouraged the participants to grow diversity of food crops to nourish the growing population and sustain the planet together.
Guest speaker and retired teacher, Kekhweu T Mero, who is also a custodian knowledge holder, reminded the youth that God has blessed with diverse herbs and seed bearing trees for food and also given the responsibility to take care and sustain them.
She shared her concerns that many people have increasingly abandoned their own agricultural lands and are not food secure anymore. Terming such practice as ‘a dangerous trend,’ she urged the youth to shoulder the responsibility to reverse the trend by getting involved in growing food.
She also stressed on the importance of being self-reliant and not to depend fully on the market for food. She also shared with the participants the cultural, nutritional and medicinal values of some wild herbs, and cultivated crops such as millets, perilla, black sesame and corn.
In a short speech, Colo Mero, director of Life Ministries and NEN advisory member, highlighted the potential of developing local food business. He encouraged the youth to rise up and take the opportunity to develop food business as there are numerous livelihood opportunities – for growers, distributers, restaurants, etc.
He asserted that ‘food is an art and therefore along with taste, presentation skills, quality control, hygiene are some of the most important points to be noted in food business’.
The cooking competition comprised of two categories namely indigenous cooking and innovative category. In the innovative category, Zaweu Tsuhah and Wewau Mero from Chizami town won the first place, while in the indigenous category, Eyienyiteu Tsuhah and Wemelhiu Thopi from Chizami village won the first prize.
Two films were also screened during the event.
The programme was chaired by NEN member Vilazonuo, while Rev. Mese Rhakho pronounced the invocation. A song was presented by Depeu and Yeteu Vero and concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by NEN member Keviselhou.