SHILLONG: Slibon Nongrum of Laitsohpliah, East Khasi Hills, who was known for her indigenous knowledge of farming, passed away on January 21. She was 83.
She was regarded as the ‘the Lady with the Magical Touch’ because of her significant contributions to improved food and agricultural production and diversity in Laitsohpliah.
It was her calloused hands that weaved a story of how over the years she kept her family out of poverty through cultivation in the plateaus of Laitsohpliah, which faces acute water crisis.
Besides facing several hurdles in cultivating the land with insufficient water, Slibon was able to conserve the resources for food and agriculture. It was through the traditional knowledge long established which was passed down from her mother that she was successful in growing several varieties of plants.
Last January, renowned Agroecologist from Mexico Dr Francisco J Rosado May during his visit was impressed by Slibon’s home garden and saw that she was able to maintain and find solutions to maintain the moisture of the earth even during the dry winter months of Meghalaya.
She spent most of her time in the fields and made traditional livelihoods and indigenous plantations possible.
She has been able to pass down her legacy to the next generation. Bakmenlang Nongrum, one of the 16 grandchildren of Slibon, grew up under her fostering care. Bakmenlang considered her vegetable garden as his adventure playground. She had shared with him the family secrets on the importance of traditional farming and seed keeping.
The villagers had noticed that the seeds she planted would always sprout and would approach her for assistance. Locals would bring the plant seeds to Slibon before the sowing season.
She was responsible for guiding and integrating the traditional Khasi dance performed at the International Terra Madre 2015 in Meghalaya. She was actively involved with NESFAS since 2014. She encouraged and shared her keenness of traditional farming with her family and had contributed to her community for their future well-being and sustainable development.
