Nongpoh, Oct 10: The Block Development Office, Umsning C&RD Block, in collaboration with the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society (MSRLS), organised a traditional cooking competition on to promote the use of locally available, nutritious, and chemical-free ingredients in daily meals.
The event, held yesterday, saw the participation of 10 contestants from the Thymmei Baiar CLF Women SHG Multipurpose of Umsning, representing around 32 villages.
The initiative forms part of the Nutrition Pilot Project being implemented under the guidance of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Ri-Bhoi District, aimed at economically empowering women and promoting awareness about healthy, locally grown food.
Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal attended the programme as the chief guest. In his address, he emphasised the need to revive interest in traditional and locally available foods that are both healthy and affordable. He added that the initiative will also serve as a platform to raise awareness about the diversity of local produce that can be grown and consumed within the state, reducing dependency on imported vegetables.
BDO A. Myrthong highlighted that the competition aims to encourage the use of indigenous vegetables and crops readily available in local fields, thereby reducing dependency on external produce. He noted that the programme is designed to equip women with practical knowledge on preparing healthy and balanced meals using easily accessible local ingredients.
He said when families consume food cooked from their own produce—grown without harmful chemicals—it contributes to better health and sustainable living. The project will continue for six months, with the goal of improving nutrition and enhancing women’s income through local food enterprises and small businesses.
