Women in rural Nagaland constitute around 65.2% cultivators and 7.3% agricultural workers outnumbering male cultivators (47.4%) and male agricultural labourers (5.8%), according to 2011 Census.
Speaking at the Nagaland Women Farmers Convention on the occasion of International Day of Rural Women, Naga indigenous women network (NIWN) convenor Khesheli Chishi pointed out that Nagaland farmers particularly women have been playing a significant role in the conservation of genetic agro-biodiversity through traditional forest based agricultural practices, jhum and terrace agriculture, homestead gardening, seed saving and sharing.
However, she said women farmers remain invisible in their identity as farmers. Despite progress on many fronts, she said that due to structural barriers and discriminatory social norms, women and girls in rural Nagaland lacked equal access and control of productive resources and assets.
“Their voice, agency and representation in the political and economic spheres continue to be hindered. Their access to infrastructure, services and social protection also remains a huge challenge,” Chishi stated. The convention held on the theme “sustainable infrastructure, services and social protection for gender equality and empowerment of women and girls” at SIRD conference hall here, brought together rural women farmers from all districts of Nagaland and government agencies.
Highlighting the objectives of the convention, Chishi said it aims to create a platform for women farmers to share their experiences, needs and concerns relating to their lives and natural resource-based on livelihoods. The women farmers’ convention looks forward to strengthen the leadership capacities of rural women through awareness building on their rights and entitlements using participatory learning tools and provide space for interaction between women farmers and government agencies towards improving their livelihoods and wellbeing.
Principal secretary, Agriculture, N Hushili Sema, called upon the gathering to exchange their ideas for different farmers through such platforms.
Stating that women farmers were the custodian of the traditional seeds, she said that climatic change was a reality and encouraged the department officers to help the women farmers in preserving the traditional produces of the state.
Rukmini Rao, MAKAAM NFT member from Telangana, said that women farmers need to live a dignified life. Women farmers sharing their experiences have also cited their concerns on climate change, sustaining of seeds using technology methods and also engaging young people in agriculture, she said.
Varieties of seeds and agri produces were displayed during the day-long programme.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of World Food Day, which is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October, women farmers market would be organised at High School Junction Kohima on Wednesday starting from 6 am onwards to promote local and organic foods.