North East Festival of Rice Highlights Cultural Heritage and Agro-Biodiversity in Nagaland

The first North East Festival of Rice: Grains of Heritage was inaugurated in Chümoukedima, Nagaland, highlighting rice as a vital cultural symbol and pillar of food security in the region. Organised by INTACH Nagaland with support from NEC and ICAR, the event emphasized the Northeast's rich agro-biodiversity, including over 200 indigenous rice landraces in Nagaland. Speakers noted threats from climate change and changing farming practices, urging conservation and development of climate-resilient rice varieties to sustain heritage and livelihoods.