“Traditional Farming and Indigenous Foods of North East” – workshop

Shillong, Feb 27: To promote organic farming in the Northeastern state a three day Exhibition-Cum–Workshop on ‘‘Traditional Farming and Indigenous Foods of North East’ held at ICAR Research Complex, Umiam on February 25. There is immense opportunity for organic farming in the northeastern region and it needs to be implemented properly, said director general of Indian Council of Agricultural Research Trilochan Mohapatra on Saturday.Addressing a gathering on Day 1 of the exhibition-cum–workshop Mohapatra said, “Organic farming needs to be effectively implemented. Also, scientists need to validate indigenous farming and food product for enhancing the livelihood security of famers here.”Mohapatra, who is also the secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research Education, also stressed on the need to tap the vast natural resources in the region. The workshop is to provide a platform for interactions among the culinary artisans, traditional farmers, rural entrepreneurs, academicians, researchers and consumers to explore the possibility of entrepreneurship development in traditional food sector of the North east. More than 1,000 farmers from eight northeastern states are attending the three-day workshop. Meghalaya Government is already promoting organic farming in almost all the 11 districts and several villages in Umiam are also practising organic farming.