Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Itanagar: Agriculture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu launched the Arunachal Pradesh Jaiv Vividhata and Beej Utsav 2026 in Yazali on May 28. The two-day festival highlights Keyi Panyor as a pioneering model for biohappiness, a development framework that merges indigenous culture and ecological sustainability with human well-being. Organizers from the 16th YAC MLA Office, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, the State Rural Livelihoods Mission, and the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation are co-hosting the event at the Government Higher Secondary School.
During the opening session, Wangsu emphasized that traditional ecological knowledge serves as the state's best defense against climate change. He pointed to shifting rainfall and shorter winters as clear indicators that the region must rely on locally adapted farming to ensure future food security. The minister praised local farmer Hage Nanya for his efforts to protect 12 indigenous paddy varieties under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act.
To support these goals, the government plans to bolster community seed banks and local certification systems. A key initiative includes the expansion of women-led Seed Guardian networks to safeguard traditional agriculture. Soumya Swaminathan also addressed the participants, noting that biohappiness effectively connects environmental health with social equity and nutrition security.
The event drew a diverse crowd of researchers, tribal leaders, entrepreneurs, and farmers. Sessions focused on climate-resilient agriculture, youth entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods, complemented by an exhibition displaying local crops and traditional farming methods.
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