Dimapur : Shamator town of Nagaland celebrated the 4th Millets Festival on the theme “Small but mighty: Our Millets, Our Identity” with various events.

Storytelling competition on millets, a farmers market, an agro-biodiversity display and cultural performances on millet sowing and harvesting by millet farmers from Muleangkiur village marked the celebration at Shamator town public ground on Tuesday.

The event was organised by the Self Employed Women Association (SEWA) Shamator in collaboration with North East Network and Millet Network of India.

Shamator DC Chubatemjen, who was the special guest of the occasion, highlighted the significance of millets, emphasising that millets are one of the oldest crops.

He said once a staple in the communities’ diet, it has gradually been taken over by crops like rice.

The DC stressed the need to create more awareness about millets through training, seminars and partnerships with institutions like state agriculture research stations.

Such initiatives will enhance communities’ efforts in cultivating and preserving millets, he added. Chubatemjen exhorted the communities present to protect the crop and the traditional knowledge associated with it.

Convenor of the millet festival committee K Esther briefed the gathering on “our millet story”.

Speaking on the journey of the Millets Festival in Shamator, Esther said during the challenging year of 2020 when the Covid-19 global pandemic hit, Shamator town faced food scarcity.

“Families struggled due to imposition of restrictions on mobility, lack of food supplies, poor road conditions and inaccessibility,” she recalled. She said it was during this crisis that the members of SEWA decided to reevaluate their food systems and take collective action.

Esther said with millet seeds donated by communities from the villages of Chassir, Rurur and Leangkonger, the SEWA embarked on its millet journey.

In 2021, the first Millets Festival was organised with the goal of raising awareness about the cultural, ecological, economic, health and nutritional significance of millets, she said.

“Since then, August 6 has been officially designated as Millets Festival Day by the Yimkhiung Tribal Council,” she said.  Esther added the SEWA’s work with millets contributes to communities’ wellbeing and called on everyone to participate in strengthening the local food systems.

In his keynote address, Y Nuklu Phom, chairman, of Lemsachenlok Society, said: “We are failing to understand the importance of sustainability but rather seeking subsidies – what we get for free”. 

He emphasised the need to reduce market dependency and government subsidies by focusing on the model of 3 Cs – conduciveness of soil, crop compatibility and climate adaptability.

As farmers, understanding and practising the 3 Cs is crucial for sustainability, Phom stressed. He urged 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,” he stated. “And this poses a significant threat to communities’ food security,” he noted.