SHILLONG, Jan 25: Over 70 participants from diverse backgrounds across Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura gathered in Guwahati on January 23-24, to discuss revitalising agroecology in the Norheast with a focus on indigenous stewardship, food sovereignty and resilient futures.
Organised by the Consortium for Agroecological Transformation (CAT), this was the fifth convening of its North Eastern India Chapter, forming part of a national initiative to promote farmer-centric, landscape-based agroecology transitions.
According to a statement here, the event was attended by agroecology practitioners, civil society leaders, NGOs, state government officials and donors.
The two-day event delved into several critical themes, including landscape-level agroecological models, youth engagement in agroecology, local governance for driving transformation, assessment tools for agroecology, natural resource conservation amid extractive practices, and market connections for sustaining agroecological enterprises.
Speaking at the event, Minhaj Ameen from the Bharat Agroecology Fund described CAT as a collaborative platform uniting diverse stakeholders across India’s agricultural value chain, with the aim of scaling up agroecology nationwide.
Shirish Joshi, an independent expert, emphasised the importance of landscape-level agroecological models and the need to create a level playing field for farmers practising organic and natural farming. He stressed that for agroecology-based farming to become profitable, it must operate at a scale where all value chain actors can participate sustainably.
Similarly, BK Sohliya, Executive Advisor and Chairman of the Meghalaya Farmers’ (Empowerment) Commission, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to improving farmers’ livelihoods in Meghalaya. Calling agroecology “the need of the hour,” he pledged full support to farmers and expressed willingness to extend assistance to other states as well.
On the other hand, Amba Jamir, a policy expert from Nagaland, called for a shift in national agricultural policies, stating that agroecology-based food and natural resource management systems are essential but remain overlooked in policy frameworks. He urged the government to prioritise agroecology at the national level.
Gratia E. Dkhar from NESFAS in Shillong highlighted the importance of collaboration, stating that participation in CAT’s regional convening enabled grassroots organisations to advocate for communities, nature, and climate while respecting biodiversity and Indigenous wisdom.
She stressed that the Consortium provided a vital platform for networking, exploring scalable models, and fostering partnerships.
Deep Jyoti Sonu Brahma from Farm2Food Foundation Assam drew attention to the significant youth unemployment in the Northeast despite the region’s rich agricultural potential. He called for creating opportunities for young people to co-lead and innovate within the agroecology movement instead of being seen merely as consumers or beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, Kapil Shah, founder of Jatan Trust in Gujarat, underscored the Northeast’s potential to become a leader in agroecology, noting that organic farming had made significant progress over the past four decades. He likened agroecology’s current state to a plane on the runway, ready for takeoff.
Sethrichem Sangtam, founder of the Better Life Foundation in Nagaland, urged policymakers and donors to adopt a “farmer’s lens” when framing policies, advocating for pro-farmer strategies that promote natural farming and help the region reclaim its food sovereignty.
Furthermore, Satyendra Madhab Mahanta from Vidhi Analytica stressed the importance of integrating traditional farming knowledge into policy frameworks, advocating for a bottom-up approach that values farmers’ practical expertise over top-down think tanks.
Dimpy, a young student from Jorhat, Assam, shared her perspective on youth involvement, highlighting their potential to drive positive changes in agriculture through innovation and skills. She called for making agroecology more attractive to young people to encourage the promotion of traditional agricultural practices, local food, and uncultivated plants.
It may be mentioned that the key partners of the event included India Climate Collaborative, Bharat Agroecology Fund, North-East Network (NEN), NESFAS, SeSTA, Farm to Food, C-GEM, and the Better Life Foundation.
