A soft mist hangs over the hills of Nagaland as the first light of day filters through dense forest canopies. Water trickles down the slopes, collecting quietly in hand-dug ponds before making its way to terraced fields below. Every drop is guided, every layer of land has a role, and nothing is left to chance.

Here, farming is not imposed on nature; it follows its rhythm.

Did you know? In Kikruma village of Nagaland, a centuries-old tribal practice has been doing exactly what the world is now striving for: conserving water, preventing soil erosion, and growing food sustainably, all at once.

A system born from understanding nature

Long before sustainability became a global buzzword, Naga farmers were already practising it. In Kikruma village of Nagaland’s Phek district, communities developed the Zabo (or Zabü) farming system, a method rooted in observing how water, soil, forests, and livestock interact.

The word Zabo itself translates to ‘impounding runoff water and using it wisely.’ But it’s more than just water conservation. It is a holistic farming approach that combines forestry, agriculture, fishery, and animal husbandry into one interconnected........

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