SHILLONG: Kegitar Lyngdoh Lyngkhoi, from Lyngkhoi village in East Khasi Hills will represent the Northeastern region of India at the ‘Terra Madre Giovani – We Feed the Planet’, (WFTP) at Milan, Italy from October 3-6. The global event is being organised by the Slow Food Youth Network that will bring together several thousand young farmers, food artisans, fishers, nomads, indigenous people, chefs, students and activists “to show the world, exactly who feeds the world”.
Lyngkhoi will represent Meghalaya, North East Slow Food & Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS), Shillong and the North East as a whole in the event.
Lyngkhoi, who holds knowledge in traditional agricultural practices, seed saving and livestock care, credits his mother Soril Lyngdoh Lyngkhoi, a custodian farmer who grows a large variety of organic food crops and holds vast knowledge about indigenous plants, for most of what he has learned about agriculture.
Lyngkhoi works in NESFAS as an associate and coordinator of Youth Food Clubs, this requires him to work with farmers and knowledge holders and youths of the region and this has enriched and equipped him to be the best representative of the farmers and youth he so closely works with.
“I am proud to be the voice representing the farmers and youth of Meghalaya and the North East of India. I also see my role as the ambassador to the world for the Indigenous Terra Madre that my fellow farmers of Meghalaya are hosting. I would like to spread the word about this unique event that is going to focus on the issues of the Indigenous Peoples and celebrate their food,” he said.
He particularly looks forward to the programme on October 4 at the WFTP which will focus on indigenous seeds and people. He will also take part in the “meet the farmer” workshops and a radio show that has been put together by the Undergrads of the University of Gastronomic Sciences, Italy.
At the event, Kegitar hopes to share with the participants the works and activities of NESFAS aimed at promoting indigenous agrobiodiversity and foods, the indigenous matriarchal system of the tribes of Meghalaya and the Indigenous Terra Madre 2015 that will be held in Meghalaya this coming November and will see the participation of over 53 countries and more than 100 “Indigenous Peoples”.
The Terra Madre Giovani combines good food, dancing and drinks with content and education. The programme is based on the model of the food academy and invites young farmers, food producers and food professionals from all over the world to join in.