On the February 23, 2022, the Society of Urban & Rural Empowerment (SURE), Jowai in collaboration with North East Slow Food Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS), Shillong organized a workshop on community led Agroecology Learning Circles (ALCs) and also released the Indigenous Food Recipe Book titled “Ka Bam Tynre” at Dulong Community Hall, Jowai.
The book which highlights some of the indigenous foods of Jaiñtia hills was released today by, Deputy Commission of West Jañtia hills in the presence of Patricia Mukhim, Editor of the Shillong Times and Pius Rani, Executive Director NESFAS. The book entails a collection of food prepared by local cooks in various cooking competitions that were organized by SURE in the different villages of West Jaintia hills District. The cooking competitions were organized in Khonglah, Cham cham and Mukhap villages and the book showcases the winning recipes of these events.
Mr. Dyke shared during the event,”Food is a major part of our culture, so the recipes are not only a documentation of the indigenous foods but it also celebrates the rich culture of the people.” He further added that in the time where we can get recipes of food from different cultures at the click of a mouse, it is indeed heartening that we now have a recipe book of some food from our culture.
Patricia Mukhim was concerned about the fact that according to the NITI AAYOG report, the state ranks very poor in the nutritional index. She was unhappy to learn that a large percentage of the female population in the state in the age group of 19 to 45 suffers from anemia, it may be because of the way we eat or the kind of food we eat, Mukhim wondered. She encouraged the farmers to continue with their job because no human being can live without food neither can a person eat money.
Bah Pius Ranee, in his speech talks about the nutritional values of local food and the benefits of consuming the right food groups. He also addressed the ALC members and explained that ALC is a multi-faceted model for community engagement and innovation that helps to reveal knowledge holders, co-create and test new solutions, document and disseminate them. It is a bottom up approach and innovation that documents traditional knowledge, undertakes natural resource management, conserves agrobiodiversity, initiates technical information and builds self governance.
Kong Kitboklang Suchiang of Iaraplang Participatory Guarantee System (PGS), Mulum who is also a custodian farmer promoted by SURE highlighted the work conducted by the group which includes instituting Iaraplang Community Seed Bank. She says that the seeds they preserve are all organic seeds that are planted by the members in their own kitchen gardens. The group also started the Farm on Wheels where they sell the organic produce to Jowai and nearby villages. The group took part and won prizes in different exhibitions held at Jowai and Shillong.
In his introductory speech Dr H. H. Mohrmen said that the book was an outcome of a two years dedication of the staff of the organization that had painstakingly documented and put the prize winning items in the competition in the form of a recipe book. The team from SURE include Daka Bareh, Somja Phawa, Waiphang Shadap and Corin Slong, who were also supported by interns who were placed with the NGO by institutions like Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU) and Assam Don Bosco University. They were instrumental in making the book a success. Mohrmen said that credit also goes to Kong Anita Roy and Bah Phrang Roy, NESFAS founding chairperson, for their constant support in making the project a success.
