Aizawl, Jul 13 (PTI) Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Monday emphasised the need to preserve indigenous craftsmanship and promote better market access for tribal artisans.
Inaugurating the week-long Zo Fair in Aizawl, Lalduhoma said the history and identity of the people of the North East have long been preserved through traditional attire, crafts and indigenous skills, even before they were recorded in written form.
Jointly organised by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Mizoram Cooperation department, the fair brings together artisans from across the North East and different parts of Mizoram to showcase traditional handicrafts, handwoven textiles, bamboo products, forest produce and indigenous food items.
The chief minister said that the products displayed at the fair reflect generations of inherited craftsmanship and cultural traditions.
Lalduhoma noted that while modern technology has enabled mass production of goods, handcrafted products continue to require painstaking manual work.
He urged artisans to take pride in their traditional skills and avoid undervaluing or abandoning them, saying growing appreciation from outside the region has created new market opportunities for indigenous products.
These crafts, he said, are an integral part of the identity of the people and serve as a living record of their history and culture.
The CM lauded the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, TRIFED and the departments involved for their efforts to conserve and promote tribal and forest-based products.
Welcoming participants from outside Mizoram, Lalduhoma invited them to experience the state’s hospitality and interact with local communities beyond the fair.
Rural Development and Administration Minister Lalnilawma, who attended the event, also said the cooperative movement has transformed economies in many parts of the world and expressed confidence that Mizoram could achieve similar success.
Referring to the recent Horti Fair at Aizawl’s Lammual, he said that sales of around Rs 20 lakh were recorded in a single day, demonstrating the market potential of locally produced goods.
He said that achieving the vision of ‘Viksit (developed) Mizoram 2047’ requires every village in the state to become self-reliant, and added that efforts in that direction have already begun.
TRIFED Regional Manager (North East) P S Thuingaleng said that Mizoram’s Van Dhan Vikas Kendras are among the best-performing in the North East.
He, however, stressed the need for improved product packaging to enhance marketability.
The fair features 25 stalls, comprising 13 from various North Eastern states and 12 from Mizoram.
Two stalls are dedicated to tribal cuisine, while the others display handicrafts, textiles, bamboo products, food items and natural produce.
Organisers said the event is designed to facilitate direct interaction and trade between producers and buyers without intermediaries. PTI CORR NN
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