Coinciding with the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, the Millet Sisters, New Phor Village in collaboration with North East Network (NEN) and Millet Network of India celebrated millets festival under the theme, “Millets for Community Resilience”, at New Phor village on August 9.
A press release by Programme Associate, Ketho Sakhrie informed that around 200 millet farmers, leaders and elders from five villages New Phor, Phor, Wuzu, Shatuzha and Yisisotha attended the event.
Gracing the event as special guest, SDAO Meluri, Mhonchumo stressed on the importance of millets and called on the community to work together with the department in promoting such important crops. He also assured support and assistance to the communities to promote millet farming.
Delivering the keynote address, Vilazonuo, NEN spoke on the importance of millet and how it was deeply rooted in the indigenous communities’ culture and traditions.
S.Teti VCC, Wuzu village spoke on huge demand for millet from friends and families living in urban areas, and viewed millet cultivation as a good livelihood opportunity. He assured support to Millet sisters and called on the other community leaders too to extend their support.
Sharing her experience, Mathsiilu noted that before converting to Christianity, she participated in traditional rituals before the sowing of millets which were sacred to the community. But after advent of Christianity, the community offered prayers in the church for the crops, which in a way was continuing the elders’ wisdom of respecting the resources, Mathsiilu said. She further said “my parents always insisted on growing more millets than paddy as it ensures security in situation such as famines”.
Other highlights of the festival included cultural performances on millet sowing and harvesting, agrobiodiversity display and farmers market.