Naga Indigenous Peoples Food Foundation

When the founder of Naga Indigenous Peoples Food Foundation moved away from their home in Manipur in search of better opportunities, they tried to recreate their mother’s healing broth. They bought the same ingredients from the market, but it never tasted the same, not even close. They later conducted research that compared ingredients and discovered that the rich biodiversity of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot, home to the Naga Indigenous people, was the key to that distinct flavor.

This realisation inspired them to preserve this sustainable food system and to establish Naga Indigenous Peoples Food Foundation, with the aim of economically empowering indigenous farmers who often do not receive fair compensation for their produce.

The foundation involves the Tangkhul Naga Peoples and aims to document Indigenous knowledge, raise awareness, and collaborate with local communities, knowledge centres, and government bodies to empower food producers while ensuring their practices are respected and valued.

Over the next five years it seeks to develop a network of 10,000 empowered farmers, serving as a sustainable business model for sustainable food systems. It aims to represent indigenous peoples in regional, national, and international advocacy efforts, highlighting the importance of biodiversity and indigenous knowledge in food production.