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DIMAPUR — The Self Employed Women Association (SEWA) of Shamator, in collaboration with North East Network (NEN) and Millet Network of India (MINI), on Tuesday celebrated the 4th Millets Festival at Shamator public ground on the theme “Small but mighty: our millets, our identity.”
An update from NEN stated that over 300 participants from nine villages and 11 wards in Shamator town attended the festival along with representatives from various government departments, NGO, community leaders and elders.
Speaking on the occasion, the convenor of Millet Festival Committee and SEWA member of Shamator, K Esther, said, “Millets are for everyone.” Addressing on the journey of Millets Festival in Shamator, Esther shared that during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Shamator town faced food scarcity. She stated that families struggled due to imposition of restrictions on mobility, lack of food supplies, poor road conditions and inaccessibility.
She stated that it was during the crisis that members of SEWA decided to reevaluate their food systems and take collective action.
With millet seeds donated by communities from Chassir, Rurur and Leangkonger village, SEWA embarked on its millet journey.
She recalled that in 2021, the first Millets Festival was organised with a goal of raising awareness about the cultural, ecological, economical, health and nutritional significance of millets. Since then, August 6 has been officially designated as ‘Millets Festival ‘Day by the Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC), she said.
She further called upon the community to participate in strengthening the local food systems.
In his keynote address, Y Nuklu Phom, chairman of Lemsachenlok Society, has emphasised on the need to reduce market dependency and government subsidies by focusing on the model of 3 Cs namely Conduciveness of Soil, Crop Compatibility and Climate adaptability. He has urged the farmers to make informed and wise choices when new crops are introduced.
“While we are all chasing newly introduced crops for our land, we are losing our own indigenous seeds, our identity,” Nuklu said adding such attitude pose a significant threat to communities’ food security.
He has lauded SEWA Shamator, NEN and MINI for their efforts in conserving indigenous crops such as millets and reaching out to more communities. He highlighted the multiple benefits of millets and encouraged farmers to continue cultivating.
Drawing a parallel, he emphasised that just as certain festivals like the ‘Hornbill Festival lose meaning without hornbills, a Millets festival without millets would similarly lose its meaning.’ He has, therefore, urged the need to safeguard the crop.
Also speaking on the occasion, the special guest and deputy commissioner of Shamator, Chubatemjen, highlighted the significance of millets stating that it was one of the oldest crops and considered as staple diet of the Naga communities.
He has stressed the need to create more awareness about millets through training, seminars and in partnerships with other institutions. He was of the opinion that such initiatives would enhance communities' efforts in cultivating and preserving millets.
Chubatemjen further encouraged the communities present to protect the crop and the traditional knowledge associated with it. He added that India ranked the 3rd largest producer of millets globally.
A storytelling competition on millets was also conducted as part of the festival with the participation of youth from nine villages. Additionally, the event highlighted farmers market, agro-biodiversity display and cultural performances on millet sowing and harvesting by Millet farmers from Muleangkiur village.