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Custodian farmer Romiss Sh Sangma.
Photo: NESFAS/Damanki War
At forty eight, Romiss Sh Sangma of Chandigre, West Garo Hills, hopes to pass her knowledge about the various types of plants she grows in her jhum filed and kitchen garden to her 6 children. “They hardly can identify 5-6 varieties” she points out in disappointment.
She herself learned about plants and tending to them from her mother.
Photo: NESFAS/Damanki War
She contributes to the maintenance of agrobiodiversity through a seed bank in her home where she keeps a variety of seeds including as many as 14 varieties of yams.
Romiss Sh Sangma and her family.
Photo: NESFAS/Damanki War
Her family earns around 5000-6000 annum from the sale of yam alone at the nearest local market at Rongram.
Romiss has expressed deep interest in documentation of the types of plants, especially yams, grown by her community and hopes that the youth, including her children, will develop a desire to learn about the wealth of diversity they have.
Inputs: Pius Ranee
