By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 7: A day-long second Stakeholder Consultation Meeting on the Himalayan Agro-ecology Initiative was held at the State Convention Centre here on Friday, bringing together policymakers, experts, and representatives from various organisations to deliberate on sustainable agriculture in the Himalayan region.
The consultation was organised in collaboration with the World Future Council, IFOAM-Organics International, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and the United Nations Development Programme. The meeting focused on finalising the Himalayan Agro-ecology Roadmap for Sustainable Food Systems in the Indian Himalayan Region while exploring ways to strengthen agro-ecological policies in Meghalaya through dialogue, knowledge exchange and cooperation among stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, Secretary of Agriculture, Government of Meghalaya, Isawanda Laloo highlighted the need to promote sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices in the region.
Laloo described the consultation as a valuable learning opportunity and stressed the importance of open discussions among stakeholders to exchange ideas, raise concerns and collectively explore solutions to shared challenges. She also appreciated the presenters for clearly outlining the objectives and scope of the initiative.
Referring to the broader global context, Laloo noted that discussions on climate change and carbon emissions are ongoing as global conflicts and environmental degradation continue to dominate international discourse.
Despite these contradictions, she said such forums remain important as they help stakeholders reflect on local challenges within a global framework and identify ways to support vulnerable communities, particularly farmers who form the backbone of the food system.
She also pointed to several challenges in the sector, including increasing market dependence, the persistence of traditional farming practices, limited access to extension services and technology, and inadequate dissemination of information among farmers. Laloo emphasised the need for stronger support systems to assist farmers where support is most needed.
Stressing the importance of collaboration with academic and research institutions, Laloo observed that although Meghalaya does not have a dedicated agricultural university, institutions such as the Central Agricultural University and the College of Post-Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences continue to play a key role in research, knowledge dissemination and the development of improved farming practices.
She further stated that policies and programmes must be localised and aligned with regional realities, adding that direct engagement with farmers and grassroots practitioners is essential to understand their needs and challenges better.
Among those present at the consultation were SV Nagachan, Jai C Rana, Maqbool Lyngdoh, R Nainamalai, Anupam Mishra, and Sonal Dsouza, along with participants from different government departments and organisations.
The consultation brought together experts and policymakers to deliberate on strategies to strengthen sustainable agriculture and build resilient food systems across the Himalayan region.
