‘Stop industrial agriculture; grow food’

SHILLONG, NOV 3: ‘Stop industrial agriculture, return to growing your own food’ – was a clarion call made by a noted activist at the five-day International Terra Madre, which kicked-started on Thursday.

“If you want to address the problem of climate change and global warming, stop industrial agriculture,” Dr Winona LaDuke, an American activist while giving her keynote address during the inauguration function at NEHU convocation hall.

According to her, there is a need for people across the globe to return back and grown their own ‘indigenous food’.

Dr LaDuke, also an environmentalist, economist, and writer known for her work on tribal land claims and preservation, as well as sustainable development, emphasized on putting in place a policy for tribal food regulation.

She was of the opinion that the rights of Mother Earth also need to be adopted. “It is not only how we feed the communities, but there is a need to adopt relationship between the people and the plants,” the activist asserted.

According to her, if one would offer the youths a hope for growth and prosperity, it should be within the ‘ecological boundary’.

In his inaugural address, Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said, “Sustainable agriculture is the key to sustainable economies which will generate hope among the generations to come,” adding “Sustainable agriculture is also crucial for sustainable democracy.”

According to him, sustainable agriculture requires appropriate scientific approach which will take care of the climatic change which is a threat to sustainable livelihood.

He said the event, which is a unique one, will be an opportunity for different tribes coming across the globe to exchange their rich traditional knowledge

“Our way of life, the rich diversity of nature and biodiversity, our unique and special food story can take advantage of this unique event as an instrument for the purpose of promoting sustainable agriculture,” Sangma said.

Therefore, the way forward is to see how we ultimately facilitate and

promote this opportune moment to give us structure products to cater to the ever growing population with the rich traditional knowledge and skills, Sangma said while promising that Meghalaya will be one of the best partners on this.

Stating that his government desires to make Meghalaya as the most favoured and most talked about destination, Sangma said, “We need to design an approach to increase the vegetation cover, biodiversity reserved and enable recharging the catchment area and hydrology of our rivers.”

Earlier, Indigenous representative leaders from the seven continents were also welcomed by the chief/Khrym of Mawlai in the ceremonial traditions of the land during the event which saw participation of over a 100 tribes from 58 countries.

Two video messages by Prince Charles, well known for his humanitarian and social interests and championing organic farming, and from Dr. MSSwaminathan, described by the United Nations Environment Programme as “the Father of Economic Ecology and one of three from India included in Time magazine’s 1999 list of the “20 most influential Asian people of the 20th century.”

Earlier, Sangma  also released a video CD of a series of 12 films which were developed in collaboration between NESFAS and the Department of Arts & Culture.

Sangma also release the ITM 2015 Coffee Table book, “Sifting through the Clouds”, that attempts to offer glimpses of cultural history and practices, folklore, geography, occupations, cuisine, music, medicine, in fact the rich diversity of Meghalaya.

The crowds of indigenous people were also mesmerized by the Theme song – “Ko Mei Ramew” of the ITM presented by eminent musicians from Shillong during the gathering. –By Our Reporter