Phrang Roy, Chairman, NESFAS, addressing the attendees
NESFAS celebrated the International Day for Biological Diversity by hosting several programmes throughout the day. They had a celebration of biodiversity at their office premises through a formal programme that highlighted the importance of biodiversity for food security. The TIP Youth Fellowship Fellows attended the celebration and gained insights about indigenous methods that they can use in their own communities.
Melari Nongrum, Executive Director, NESFAS, speaking at the Pest Management Workshop
Acknowledging the problems community members have with pests in their fields, NESFAS organised within its premise a practical sharing of ideas on how to undertake pest management with the members of the Agroecology Learning Circle (ALC) from Mawhiang, Liarsluid, Umsawwar, Pyrda and Darichegre (Garo Hills). The emphasis was on the sharing of local knowledge amongst farmers themselves together with the acknowledgement that modern science can also make useful contribution to the current local knowledge. Some of the pests that were identified during the discussions were cabbage loopers, may beetles, corm borars, cut worms, red ants, etc. Participants agreed to a suggestion to test the various pest management methods discussed in one season and to try some hands-on learning methods such as having in each of their villages an ‘insect zoo’ as developed in some countries.
NESFAS presented to the participants a brief summary of its on-going study for mapping of micro-nutrient rich species in 32 villages.
Attendees having lunch
All participants and staff had lunch which was prepared by the community members of Khweng. They showcased a variety of indigenous food items like local red rice, smoked beef with pumpkin, stir fried fiddle fern with tamarind, salad, turmeric and fermented fish chutney, mint chutney, egg curry with black sesame seed and a mixed assorted fruit salad. The celebration concluded with a reminder that we must all set examples that global issues can be solved with local measures with community being an important pillar of our development and well-being.
Comentários