Held in collaboration with local indigenous farmers, the day-long event featured a Community Meeting and an Indigenous Seed Festival that brought together a wide cross-section of participants including farmers, government representatives, line departments, local governance institutions, community-based organizations (CBOs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and students.

The programme celebrated the community’s resilience in the face of increasing climate stress and their deep-rooted knowledge in sustainable agriculture. The Seed Festival offered a platform for showcasing traditional seed varieties, exchanging farming techniques and reaffirming the importance of agro-biodiversity and food sovereignty in the region.

Tirtha Prasad Saikia, Director of NEADS, shared the vision behind the Farmers’ Field School and Seed Bank- to empower small and marginal farmers through eco-friendly agricultural practices rooted in indigenous wisdom and community solidarity; over the past year, the initiative has trained numerous farmers in climate-resilient farming, soil health restoration and seed preservation techniques.

A key highlight of the day was the felicitation of four local champions- Lalit Taud, Amiyo Doley, Munmi Baruah and Mintu Neog- with the Jhanjimukh Samaj Deep Award 2025, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to sustainable agriculture, indigenous knowledge systems, and grassroots leadership.

‘This is more than just a celebration- it is a declaration of people’s power and their ability to preserve and protect what truly sustains us,’ said Aravinda Dutta, Chairperson of NEADS, during the event.

With climate change posing growing threats to traditional farming communities across Assam, the event served as a timely reminder of the importance of local action, knowledge-sharing, and community-led initiatives in building resilience and securing the future of food and farming.