SHILLONG, June 27: The two-day International Conference on Women Farmers and Sustainable Organic Agriculture concluded on Saturday at the State Convention Centre.
The event was organised by the Meghalaya Natural & Organic Farming Society for Livelihood & Innovation in Agriculture (MEGNOLIA) under the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with IFOAM Organics Asia and KfW Development Bank.
Held under the theme ‘Women Farmers Leading Change Globally for Organic Food Systems’, the conference marked the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer. It drew approximately 400 participants, including policymakers and farmers from more than 10 countries.
The sessions during the conference highlighted Meghalaya’s matrilineal structure and focused on empowering women farmers through international partnerships, gender-responsive policies and sustainable organic practices.
Addressing the closing ceremony, Agriculture Secretary Isawanda Laloo stated that the conference provided a vital platform to learn from the experiences of women farmers worldwide.
She thanked Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma for his support of the state’s agricultural sector.
Laloo reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to promoting global exposure and improving market access for local growers, noting that such initiatives are an investment in the future of Meghalaya’s farming community.
