YAZALI, May 29: The two-day Arunachal Pradesh Jaiv Vividhata and Mvm Liid Soonam/Beej Utsav concluded at Yazali with a strong call for ecological preservation, seed sovereignty, youth empowerment and sustainable agricultural policies.
The valedictory session brought together farmers, legislators, scientists and youth representatives, with discussions focusing on climate resilience, indigenous seed preservation and community-led agribusiness initiatives.
The session was hosted by M S Swaminathan Research Foundation Chairperson Soumya Swaminathan and opened by Keyi Panyor ZPC Nabam Piju, who welcomed dignitaries and participants while highlighting the significance of hosting such an ecological dialogue in the district.
MSSRF Biodiversity Programme Director ED Israel Oliver King presented a comprehensive roadmap emerging from the two-day consultations, stressing the need to bridge scientific frameworks with indigenous knowledge systems to protect traditional seed lineages from climate-related threats.
Nyishi farmer representative and HGB Likha Tado spoke on environmental degradation, observing that rivers once wide and deep have gradually shrunk, while trees in higher regions are decaying due to climate change and shifting micro-climatic conditions.
He stressed the importance of safeguarding indigenous food systems and traditional herbal medicinal knowledge and appreciated Yachuli MLA Toko Tatung for organising the consultation.
The emotional highlight of the programme was the testimony of Hage Tado Nanya of Hari village in Ziro Valley, an Apatani farmer known for preserving indigenous seed varieties despite having no formal education or institutional support.
Nanya said she first noticed the alarming disappearance of traditional seed varieties in 1990 and independently began conserving them. She brought 17 indigenous seed varieties to the conclave and said her seed bank remains open to all communities irrespective of religion, caste or creed.
She shared that over the years she mobilised 78 self-help groups and received three internationally certified recognitions for her work in progressive farming and SHG development. Nanya also recalled how she raised her seven daughters through seed and fish preservation practices and integrated fish cultivation with paddy farming using Govt-provided fingerlings.
Warning against blind dependence on modern crop systems, she urged younger generations to remain self-reliant and preserve indigenous food practices. “What if suddenly we don’t get rice? We must remain self-reliant and self-sufficient,” she said.
Youth representative Tarh Tadam addressed the economic insecurities and social stigma associated with agriculture, criticising the mindset that farming is treated as a last resort profession. He called for structured farming systems, better administrative support and financial assistance to encourage youth participation in agriculture, while also stressing the importance of addressing mental health and social anxieties among young farmers.
NABARD Assistant General Manager Varaprasada K Kuppli announced that NABARD is looking for local NGO partners to expand Jeeva natural farming models in the region and assured support through training and capacity-building initiatives.
PCCF P Subramanian linked biodiversity conservation with nutrition and sustainable lifestyles. He proposed village-level plantation of indigenous fruit trees and advocated farmer-to-farmer seed exchange initiatives inspired by successful models in Tamil Nadu. He also encouraged local communities, particularly women, to document traditional food preparation methods linked with indigenous seed varieties.
Addressing youth concerns, Subramanian observed that many highly qualified professionals from metropolitan cities are now turning towards farming and eco-friendly lifestyles, and urged Arunachal’s youth to explore agri-tourism opportunities leveraging the state’s clean natural environment.
He further appealed to legislators to establish community radio stations using Central Govt subsidies for dissemination of biodiversity and livelihood-related information in local languages.
In his address, local MLA Toko Tatung assured that the concerns and suggestions raised during the conclave would form part of his policy agenda and pledged support for transparent implementation of agricultural and livelihood initiatives at the village level.
Mebo MLA Oken Tayeng, in the valedictory address, said the climate and agricultural challenges discussed at the conclave reflected concerns across Arunachal Pradesh. He pledged legislative support for eco-friendly tribal livelihoods, indigenous seed protection and creation of economic safety nets for youth in agriculture.
In her closing remarks, Soumya Swaminathan expressed admiration for the resilience and wisdom of local farmers and reaffirmed the commitment of MSSRF and its partners towards supporting nature-based solutions and long-term climate resilience.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by MSSRF senior development coordinator Girigan Gopi.