Shillong, Oct 3: The College of Community Science (CCS), Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Tura concluded its month-long Rashtriya Poshan Maah – National Nutrition Month 2026 with a Local Food Festival on September 30.
The festival, organised by the Department of Food Science and Nutrition in alignment with POSHAN Abhiyaan, focused on healthy diets, dietary diversity, adequate protein intake and nutrition practices among women, children and the wider community.
Inaugurated by Dean Dr Jyoti V Vastrad, the festival featured 12 stalls set up by local entrepreneurs, farmers and students of CCS, showcasing local food products, traditional foods and innovative preparations. The event drew more than 300 participants including faculty, students, staff, government representatives and the general public.
The Best Stall Award carrying Rs 5,000 sponsored by Big C Cancer Support Group, Tura, was awarded to Darechikgre Primary Agroecology Cooperative Society Ltd, West Garo Hills. The award was presented by Additional Deputy Commissioner and CEO, Tura Municipal Board, Jude Rangku T Sangma, who graced the valedictory programme.
Live music under Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Promotion added cultural flavour to the celebration.
The festival marked the culmination of a series of community outreach activities conducted throughout September by the department under the leadership of Head Dr Namita Singh.
The outreach included training of Anganwadi workers and supervisors from seven projects of West Garo Hills on healthy and diverse recipes using affordable local ingredients.
Community programmes included “Healthy Cooking for Happy Village” at Gimbilgre where fruit kheer, carrot cheela, poushtik khichadi and moringa pakora were demonstrated, and Hot Cooked Meals demonstration at Adugre featuring beetroot and ash gourd halwa, moringa dal, iron-rich upma and besan chilla. Another programme at Rimrangpara in collaboration with ICDS focused on fern green omelette, plantain flower salad, tapioca cutlet and bottle gourd kheer, besides a cooking competition.
The department also conducted a Plant Protein-Rich Foods Campaign at Tura Supermarket, sensitising 60 shopkeepers on plant proteins, millets, pulses and soybean, with demonstrations of little millet laddu with curry leaves and soybean chunks salad.
A radio programme on “Invisible Hunger: Hidden Malnutrition That Stunts Learning” was also recorded and broadcast through All India Radio, Tura, highlighting micronutrients and balanced diets.
The month-long activities collectively reached more than 1,000 participants including Anganwadi functionaries, women, adolescents, children, villagers and shopkeepers, linking nutrition education with local food systems, traditional knowledge and entrepreneurship.
