The word "NETWORK" features predominantly in the name of our organization for a very good reason. We believe networking is one of the most valuable and most exciting ways to bring about positive change in the world. Fertile Ground: East/West Sustainability Network is honoured to have been able to play a part in bringing together people interested in organic farming from various parts of Assam and other northeast states.
Over the past decade, we've made links with kindred spirits from England, Germany, Canada, USA, Australia, Italy, Switzerland and many parts of India. And with the participation of an increasing number of people and some great new organizations based in Assam, the network is really starting to take off!
Over the past decade, we've made links with kindred spirits from England, Germany, Canada, USA, Australia, Italy, Switzerland and many parts of India. And with the participation of an increasing number of people and some great new organizations based in Assam, the network is really starting to take off!
from the left: Pabitra Bora, Maina Dutta, Iqbal Hussain, Suman Ghosh, Pompy Ghosh and Biswajit Bordoloi (absent from the picture is Babu Tanti)
Over the past few months, meetings and discussions have taken place in Digboi, Assam, with Maina Dutta and Pabitra Bora (staff from the new organic centre at Kakojan College) and Iqbal Hussain, Babu Tanti and Pompy and Suman Ghosh (from Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa, the organic demonstration garden and training centre that Fertile Ground helped develop way back in 2005!)
| We're also very excited that Ishteyaque Ahmad from the Living Soils campaign, will also be visiting both the Digboi and Kakojan projects this week. Ishteyaque has been working closely with farmers and farming families in rural Bihar. In conjunction with a group from Kedia Village, from Jamul District, they have been introducing more holistic approaches to promote ecological farming practices. Many of these practices draw on traditional Vedic knowledge - relying on the use of natural, locally-available inputs to increase soil fertility and protect plants from damage done by insect pests and disease. |  |
While in the Digboi area, he'll be meeting with the project staff, with Biswajit Bordoloi from Axum Agri and hopefully with some of the farmers he's working with in Margherita subdivison. Later in the week, while he's visiting Kakojan College's new organic centre, we're anticipating Ishteyaque will have an opportunity to meet with faculty members, students and Principal Dr. Ruprekha Bordoloi - and with some of the staff members at NEADS (North East Affected Area Development Society), the NGO that is involved in administering the project.
 | And in two distant cities in the west, friends of Assam are also busy at work. In the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columba, members of the Strathcona Sunrise Rotary Club and hundreds of volunteers are getting ready for "Ribfest" - a fundraising event that will help them raise money for important local and international projects. In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Mili Dutta and people from the Powderhorn Park community are putting the finishing touches on "Where the Brahmaputra Meets the Mississippi" - an annual fundraiser that generates funds to support projects that improve the lives and livelihoods of people living in rural Assam - including ours! |
MAKING CONNECTIONS LIKE THESE HELPS MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE!
Sending sincere thanks to everyone for their hard work and open hearts!
Sending sincere thanks to everyone for their hard work and open hearts!
