People and Process

Here is a first-hand report about a farmer growing glutinous black rice in India Let us put the record straight, first. This is not the first instance where farmers from the Northeast have preserved traditional tribal knowledge about agriculture.

One such farmer, Potshangbam Devakanta of Manipur, was recently in the news too for his efforts in following traditional farming methods. He was awarded for his effort. This is what Devakanta says:

Zizira depends on its team of explorers to understand the agricultural sector, to network with farmers through field visits and to identify healthy, little known produce to market. It looks like the Zizira explorers are on ‘operation mode’ 24x7. Not just they, even their family members.

How the team got to meet a lady farmer Bernadethe reads like a series of unconnected events, strung together thanks to the ‘on’ mode of the Zizira team of explorers and their families! Read on to see why.

Shifting cultivation in Northeast India is still prevalent and is practiced by the indigenous communities. This farming system has been widely disputed as environmentally destructive and economically unfeasible.

Shifting cultivation has been part and parcel of the region’s tradition and culture since time immemorial and its practice is widespread even to this day.