Urgency to revitalize agroecology in Northeast India highlighted at CAT event

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 28, 2025

The Consortium for Agroecological Transformation (CAT) hosted its fifth North-East Chapter Convening on January 23-24, 2025, at The Lily Hotel in Guwahati. The event brought together over 70 participants from across Northeast India, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura, to discuss the critical need to revitalize agroecology through indigenous stewardship, food sovereignty, and resilient futures.

This two-day gathering explored essential themes such as landscape-based agroecological models, youth engagement in sustainable farming, local governance for driving transformation, natural resource conservation amidst extractive practices, and creating economic sustainability through market linkages for agroecological enterprises.

Participants included agroecology practitioners, agri-business entrepreneurs, civil society leaders, state officials, NGOs, and donors, reflecting a united effort to prioritize farmer-centric, sustainable transitions.

Key contributions from Meghalaya were highlighted by representatives from MBMA, Barefoot Trust, Grassroots, and HQ Inspired, who showcased innovative efforts in integrating agroecological practices within their communities.

CAT collaborated with India Climate Collaborative, Bharat Agroecology Fund, North-East Network (NEN), NESFAS, SeSTA, Farm to Food, C-GEM, and the Better Life Foundation, to emphasize collective action for transformative change.

B.K. Sohliya, Executive Advisor and Chairman of the Meghalaya Farmers’ (Empowerment) Commission, expressed the commission’s commitment to improve the livelihoods of farmers in Meghalaya. Agroecology is the need of the hour, and we will provide all possible support to farmers. We are also open to providing support to other states as well says Sohliya.

Gratia E. Dkhar, from NESFAS in Shillong, highlighted the importance of collaboration: “Participating in this Regional Convening of the Consortium for Agroecology Transformation enables grassroots organizations like ours to collectively champion communities, nature, and climate, grounded in respect for biodiversity and the wisdom of Indigenous Peoples. The Consortium has provided us with a valuable platform to connect with like-minded organizations, explore scalable models, and foster collaboration.”

Kapil Shah, founder of Jatan Trust in Gujarat, highlighted the potential of the Northeast in promoting agroecology: “The Northeast can contribute significantly to teaching others about agroecology. Organic farming has come a long way in the last four decades. The plane of agroecology is on the runway, and it is time to fly.”

CAT plans to establish three agroecological transformation landscapes in different parts of India to strengthen farmer-centric, landscape-based approaches. These models will incorporate ecosystem-level support services and agencies necessary for agroecological transformation, ensuring long-term sustainability through collaboration with diverse stakeholders.