Tractors on the job to revive agriculture in Chinchinim village at the initiative of the Communidade of Chinchinim.
MARGAO
The Communidade of Chinchinim has embarked on a mission – to revive agriculture and bring back the fallow fields under paddy cultivation.
Tractors are already on the job in the once fallow land adjoining the National highway as the Communidade has proposed to bring 170 hectares of land under paddy cultivation. The Communidade has roped in the paddy man of Goa, Fr George Quadros to help and assist in achieving this mission.
President of Chinchinim Communidade, Agnelo Furtado said, “Major part of the land is owned by the Communidade of Chinchinim, however most of it is tenanted land. We are intending to do community farming. At present more than 40 farmers are participating.”
He added: “Most of the land was lying fallow and uncultivated for more than 10 years, exception being isolated case where just three farmers were planting with their own fencing for the last three years, which they have stopped all together lately.”
The Communidade has embarked on the mission to revive agriculture after assessing the major problems, including the non-availability of local labour and the high cost of manual labour. The other factor is the uncontrolled devastation done by the cattle which descend in large herds even from neighbouring village of Cuncolim.
Agnelo said the Communidade has adopted a two-pronged strategy: One, large-scale mechanisation, with the help of Fr George Quadros of Don Bosco Society, Loutolim with his well-trained team, equipped with the latest 4 wheel drive Kubota tractors and transplanters etc.
And, secondly, erect a long sturdy fence to keep the cattle at bay, even though a large area has been left unfenced for the cattle to graze.
Stating that MLA Cruz Silva is supporting the Communidade in this project, he said the agriculture department is very enthusiastic and promised to help the farmers with the subsidy. “Our motto and ideology is to revive our traditional agriculture and make land green and put the humble rice plate on the table of the poor man with help of Fr George known as the paddy man of Goa,” he added.
