SHILLONG: The Shillong Declaration draft of the 2nd ITM 2015 has already been circulated to the delegates for review and is expected to be finalized by December 2015.
More than 100 indigenous groups attended the event and the feedback has so far positive. The issues of land use were also strongly addressed.
18 of the 41 host villages of Meghalaya who participated at the ITM 2015 gathered together at the MBDA Hall, Shillong on November 14 to discuss the Shillong Declaration which was an outcome of the discussions that took place during the ITM 2015.
ITM 2015 saw the participation of 58 countries, 140 communities and 640 delegates. The event cumulated with a food festival at the Mawphlang Sacred Groves that witnessed an attendance of not less than 80,000 people.
According to Benerale Ranee of Nongwah, East Khasi Hills,”The 5 day ITM event has really supported our farmers and encouraged us to strengthen our beliefs by uniting with other indigenous people of the world. We have been able to listen to their experiences which are similar to ours. It has only allowed us to think openly.”
ITM 2015 Expeditor, Carl O. Rangad congratulated everyone present at the event on the success of ITM 2015. Chairman of NESFAS, Phrang Roy said, “Communities must be clear with their objectives when reviewing the document.”
The draft of the Shillong declaration has been put together by the organizers of ITM 2015 including the Indigenous Partnership for Agrobiodiversity and Food Sovereignty, Slow Food International and North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS).
The summary of the Shillong Draft focused on issues pertaining to food, agro ecology, traditional agricultural practices, and among others issues also.
Other topics that were discussed in the Shillong Declaration were the need for preservation of fauna and documentation of medicinal plants. It was also realized that the way to address these issues was through collective discussion and information sharing.
