10 November 2025; 13:00-14:00 GMT
Presenter: Dr Chubbamenla Jamir
Biography
Dr Chubbamenla Jamir is a Food Systems Scientist and Trainer, specialising in climate change, food security, and sustainable development. She is the Director and Co-Founder of the Native Foodscape Foundation.
She holds honorary and advisory positions at several prestigious international institutes, as Co-Lead of the Mountain Food Systems Working Group and Board Member of the Asian Mountain Academic Association and the Global Network for Sustainable Development.
Previously, she served as Assistant Professor at the TERI School of Advanced Studies in New Delhi (2012-2022) and has contributed to research and teaching roles at the Stockholm Environment Institute and the University of York, UK. She has been on the Advisory Committee of the Global Network for Sustainable Development since 2021; core faculty member at the Global Centre for Food Systems Innovation, USAID (2013–2015); Manager for the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, South Asia Regional Centre (2013–2017); Executive Council Member, International Mountain Tourism Alliance (2019-20).
Chubbamenla is a Botanist by disciplinary training with an MPhil in Environmental Sciences from Jawaharlal Nehru University (India) and a Doctoral degree from the University of York (United Kingdom)..
.
Discussion with Dr Jamir
Title: Listening to the Mountains: Insights from Indigenous Mountain Food Systems for a Resilient Future
Abstract for the talk :
This talk draws on Dr Jamir’s journey from an Indigenous tribal community in the mountainous state of Nagaland, in India’s Eastern Himalayan region, to global academic and research spaces, and ultimately back to the landscapes that shaped my identity and worldview. Her research focuses on the food systems of Indigenous mountain communities—ecosystems that are among the most ecologically fragile and climate vulnerable yet socially resilient in the world. Within these environments, farmers cultivate not only crops but also culture, biodiversity, and adaptive wisdom accumulated over generations. However, they are currently at crossroads as they face various form of climate risks.
In this presentation, she explore how Indigenous knowledge systems inform our understanding of climate resilience and offer grounded perspectives for global food security in the context of accelerating environmental and socio-economic change. Drawing on her research and recent interdisciplinary studies on traditional food systems, she highlight how cultural memory and community-driven innovation sustain livelihoods and ecological balance amid uncertainty.
These insights reveal the sophistication of Indigenous agricultural practices, food preferences, and ecological stewardship, demonstrating their relevance for contemporary debates on climate adaptation and sustainable development.
Session Highlights
Introduction
Dr. Chubbamenla Jamir is Project Director of the Climate Studies and Knowledge Solutions Centre in Nagaland, India, and an active member of the Asian Mountain Academic Alliance. Her academic journey began in botany, but her research now spans multiple disciplines, reflecting the complexity of climate risk in mountain ecosystems. She works closely with Indigenous communities in the Eastern Himalayas, exploring how traditional food systems, biodiversity, and cultural practices intersect with climate change. Her approach emphasizes that farming in these regions is not only about crops but also about cultivating culture, adaptive wisdom, and ecological resilience. This perspective aligns strongly with the ethos of the My Climate Risk initiative, which seeks to understand climate risk through local contexts and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Key Themes from the Presentation
Dr. Jamir began by situating her work within the Hindukush-Himalayan region, which stretches from Afghanistan to Myanmar and includes Northeastern India. This area is globally recognized as a biodiversity hotspot but is also highly vulnerable to climate hazards such as landslides, flash floods, and earthquakes. Agriculture here is predominantly rain-fed and small-scale, making communities particularly sensitive to shifts in rainfall and temperature patterns.
She described the uniqueness of Indigenous food systems in these mountainous regions. Limited connectivity and market access have shaped farming practices that prioritize diversity and resilience. Shifting cultivation, locally known as Jhum, remains a dominant method in many states of Northeast India. This slash-and-burn technique, traditionally sustainable due to long fallow periods, is now under pressure as cycles shorten from decades to just a few years. Farming methods such as Terrace farming has been introduced as a permanent alternative, but it brings its own challenges, such as soil nutrient depletion after consecutive years of cropping. Kitchen gardens and wild foraging continue to play a vital role in household nutrition, complemented by traditional preservation methods like fermentation and smoking, which reflect deep cultural knowledge.
Dietary diversity among tribal communities is remarkably high compared to global averages, thanks to locally grown crops, herbs, and edible insects. However, urban areas are witnessing a transition toward processed foods, leading to rising non-communicable diseases. Climate change compounds these challenges: farmers report delayed rainfall, rising temperatures, and declining soil moisture. Long-term data confirm these perceptions, showing a decline in rainfall and an increase in minimum temperatures—critical for rice productivity, the staple crop in the region. These changes are driving adaptation strategies, such as shorter cropping cycles and a shift to cash crops like carrots and pineapples. While these offer economic benefits, they raise ecological concerns and increase reliance on external inputs.
Dr. Jamir also highlighted the socio-cultural dimensions of farming. Women play decisive roles in crop selection, marketing and household food security, even though land rights remain primarily in the hands of men. Community-owned land fosters collective farming and cultural cohesion, but youth migration and the lure of urban livelihoods threaten the continuity of these traditions. Emerging pressures from tourism and the influence of global food trends further complicate the picture, as farmers adapt to meet tourist preferences, often at the expense of traditional crops. Finally, she noted that many policy interventions fall short because they are based on data from lowland regions and employ top-down methodologies, highlighting the pressing need for research and strategies tailored specifically to mountain environments and local contexts.
Expanded Q&A
Q :Is relevant data being captured for sustainable land management and extension services?
A: Dr. Jamir explained that while India has a strong network of agricultural institutions, data collection in mountain regions is sparse compared to the plains. Policies often rely on plains-based datasets (as most data and knowledge available are from the plains), which do not reflect the unique socio-ecological realities of hilly terrain. Climate modelling adds another layer of complexity because mountainous topography makes accurate predictions difficult. Although initiatives like natural farming are being promoted nationally, their implementation in mountain contexts suffers from limited evidence and unclear guidelines. This gap hampers effective governance and adaptation planning.
Q: How does climate-driven plant distribution shift affect foraging and tourism?
A: Published literature on this topic is scarce, but field observations suggest significant changes. Foraging remains a critical source of nutrition, yet these days communities increasingly forage for economic gain rather than sustenance, which can lead to overharvesting and resource depletion. Climate stress may force communities to forage deeper into the forests, increasing labour demands and health risks. Tourism adds another dimension: as visitor numbers rise, demand for familiar foods grows, prompting farmers to favour marketable produce over traditional crops. This trend risks eroding cultural food heritage and biodiversity.
Q: Is shifting cultivation sustainable given labour migration and market pressures?
A: Traditionally, shifting cultivation was ecologically and socially sustainable, supported by long fallow periods and community-based land management. However, youth migration and market competition now threaten its viability. Government and NGO interventions have introduced settled farming systems, but these often fail after few years due to soil nutrient depletion and high input costs. Dr. Jamir emphasized that shifting cultivation is deeply embedded in cultural practices and collective labour systems, which foster social cohesion. To sustain it, interventions must focus on holistic approach that includes value addition and market linkages—similar to India’s millet revival.
Q: Are gender roles considered in alternative farming approaches?
A: Gender dynamics are central to traditional farming systems, with women managing crop choices, marketing, and household nutrition. However, existing interventions do not focus much on the shift in gender role dynamics. Dr. Jamir highlighted the importance of implementing gender-sensitive approaches that provide meaningful opportunities for both men and women within modern agricultural frameworks, while considering established gender dynamics present in traditional agriculture.
Q5: How do farmers decide what to plant—experience vs institutional advice?
A: Decision-making is shaped by both top-down and grassroots processes. Government schemes and extension services provide guidance, but farmers often rely on peer-to-peer learning. Innovations typically spread when one farmer experiments successfully and others follow. This informal network is powerful, but it can also lead to rapid adoption of practices without adequate ecological assessment, highlighting the need for integrated advisory systems that combine scientific knowledge with local experience.
Q: Can hybrid approaches preserve traditional farming while embracing modern methods?
A: Dr. Jamir agreed that hybrid models are essential but challenging. While introducing new crops/ technologies alongside traditional ones can improve resilience and nutrition, success depends on holistic planning. Marketing bottlenecks often undermine these efforts: when many farmers adopt the same crop, prices collapse, discouraging continued cultivation. She emphasized that hybrid approaches must consider cultural values, ecological sustainability, and market dynamics to avoid short-lived gains and long-term setbacks.
Closing Remarks
Dr. Jamir concluded by calling for mountain-specific data, gender-inclusive strategies, and innovations that respect cultural heritage while enhancing economic viability. The discussion revealed striking parallels between the Eastern Himalayas and other regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, where communities face similar adaptation dilemmas. Her insights underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing climate risk.