Shillong, Feb 7: The North East Conclave 2.0 that brought together policymakers, community leaders, and global partners concluded here yesterday.
The event was hosted by State Capability Enhancement Project (SCEP), in collaboration with the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS), the Meghalaya Early Childhood Development Mission (MECDM), and The/Nudge Institute.
Various stakeholders deliberated on a shared vision of scaling Natural Farming and Natural Resource Management (NRM) through community led approaches. The event witnessed participation from the states of Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Jharkhand and Karnataka amongst others.
The highlight of the conclave was an expert masterclass led by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) Executive Vice Chairman T. Vijay Kumar on scaling natural farming. The discussions broke new ground by linking sustainable agriculture directly to Early Childhood Development (ECD) and maternal nutrition.
Farmers shared firsthand accounts of how natural farming provides safe, nutritious food for pregnant women and young children. Experts concluded that embedding natural farming within Self-Help Groups (SHGs) is the most effective pathway to simultaneously combat malnutrition and empower local communities.
Earlier, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development T.K. Anil Kumar who inaugurated the event emphasised the critical role of collaborative platforms in driving rural transformation across the region.
The event also saw the signing of the Letter of Intent, formalising a partnership between Meghalaya and The/Nudge Institute in the presence of the Director of the institute John Paul and Meghalaya Principal Secretary Sampath Kumar.
