The Aman A•song Café and Darechikgre Women Self Help Groups, which are supported by the North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS) Garo team, lauuched a pop out stall at the Wangala Festival. The festival was held at Asanang, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya from the 6th to the 9th November, 2019 in collaboration with various government departments to uplift women self help groups and individual entrepreneurs.
NESFAS took part in the festival to help boost the group, give them a platform to expose themselves and motivate the group to learn and exchange ideas with other participants from other districts of Garo Hills. There were 39 different stalls from different districts of Meghalaya, including Jaintia Hills.
Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, made a remark on the packaged material of the millet flour which was displayed at the NESFAS stall. “I will ask the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills to look upon the necessities of the organization for future help,” he said, while purchasing a kilogram of millet.
Hendri G. Momin, a local cook and the owner of the Aman A•song Café came up with new innovative recipes. After a week’s training at the NESFAS (Garo office) in October, the SHGs also sold pickles which they made and packaged on their own.
Willie Sangma, a customer at the stall, said, “No one has given such awareness on nutrient comparison of local food and that is one of the main reasons why we tend to neglect our local food. NESFAS has done a really good initiative and I am looking forward to more awareness programmes on local food.”
Wonderful contribution NESFAS Team Garo Hills Unit led by Rimchi.