Dimapur, October 17: North East Network (NEN) and Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) have jointly organised an awareness workshop on ‘Organic food and farming’ at Pfutsero town on October 17 with the participation of 112 persons comprising of farmers, Pfutsero Town Council members, representatives of Phek District Farmers’ Union, Colony chairmen, church leaders, youth members, staff members of SDAO and SEWA members.
NEN Programme Manager, Ms Wekoweu Tsuhah, in her keynote speech, highlighted that ‘traditionally agriculture in Nagaland has always been subsistence and organic, however in recent years this trend was changing due to the shift towards commercial agriculture thereby compelling farmers to use external inputs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides and weedicides.
Stating that applications of such chemical poses serious health and environmental problems, she urged to curb them without further delay with the active participation of diverse stakeholders including the State, local authorities, CSOs, NGOs and farmers. Resource person, Dr. Ibomcha Singh, Regional Manager of One Cert Asia, spoke on the impact of chemical fertilisers and pesticides which have far reaching consequences on humans, animals and the environment. He said the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, fungicides and weedicides degrades the soil fertility, pollutes water resources, destroys biodiversity, and most of all it negatively impacts humans’ health.
Specifically referring to impact on human health, Dr. Singh outlined that harmful residues of agro-chemicals causes cancer, skin diseases, paralysis, sterility, vision impairment, genetic disorders etc. He added that it is very unfortunate when DDT is still being used against malaria prevention when it is already banned internationally by WHO.
A film titled ‘Slow poisoning of food in India’ was screened which presents the experience of farmers dealing with the aftermath of chemical usage.
Urging the farmers to take up organic farming for sustainable agriculture, he also informed about the certification agencies and the process. Earlier, he briefly presented on One Cert Asia, a certification agency on organic food, its services and activities.
In the open discussion that followed the presentation of the resource person, participants raised their concern about the flooding of agro-chemicals in the market and the absence of regulatory mechanisms at the local and the State level.
While sharing with each other their rich knowledge and experiences of developing and using bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides in their fields, they also articulated the need for State support to set up bio-fertiliser units at local levels, the need for producers and consumers’ education, capacity building and marketing linkage for organic kiwi fruits amongst others.
Ms Subotola Aier, Programme Associate NEN, delivered the welcome and introductory note. The vote of thanks was proposed by Akhrole Chirhah, field mobiliser SEWA, Phek district.
