MARGAO
Salcete is bracing up to take another big leap in taking paddy cultivation forward in the taluka countryside in the coming season.
Thanks to the initiative taken by local farmers and villagers and supported by the Agriculture Department and the Paddy Man of Goa, Fr George Quadros, a whopping 2.37 lakh square metres of fallow agriculture land is proposed to be brought under production in June.
These fallow lands are spread across the villages of Chinchinim, Navelim, Sarzora and parts of Betalbatim, but are expected to turn into lush green fields in the coming season.
For, farmers have come together under community farming to revive farming in the sprawling fields with support from Fr Quadros and the Agriculture Department.
While Chinchinim is adding another feather to its cap by bringing around one lakh square metre of fallow fields under cultivation, the picturesque Salpem lake at Navelim will see a revival of farming after decades of neglect.
Says Chinchinim Comunidade Attorney Agnel Furtado, who had initiated the plan to revive paddy cultivation in the village, which was once considered the granary of Salcete: “Since our experiment of bringing fallow fields at Digaum bandh turned out a huge success, we have decided to bring the vast tracks of fields near the St Sebastian Chapel under cultivation in the coming season. We are confident that our efforts will bear fruit.”
In fact, there seems no looking back for Agnelo and his dedicated team of farmers who had all joined hands to bring the fallow lands at Digaum bandh under cultivation last year. “We have gone in for the second crop at Digaum bandh and our experiment in water melon cultivation in the same fields also brought rich dividends,” he said.
Apparently emulating the success story of Digaum bandh, farmers from Navelim have joined hands to bring the fallow land at the famous Salpem lake under cultivation. President of the newly-elected Navelim farmers club, Prof Antonio Alvares has said it has been decided to initially cultivate around one lakh square metres of fields at the Salpem lake this year. “Farmers are upbeat over the prospects of reviving the fallow fields. We have all come together in the mission to revive our fields,” he said.
Fr George Quadros, considered the Paddy Man of Goa, has extended his full services to the farmers of Navelim as well as Chinchinim to bring mechanisation in the farms. He told The Goan that the farmers of Navelim have all come together to revive the Salpem lake fields this season. “I am also extending my support to the farmers as a service provider. Since the farmers are all raring to go, our tractors will descend in the Salpem lake in the next few days to prepare the fields for the cultivation,” he said.
Margao Zonal Agriculture Officer, Sheriff Furtado said that increasing numbers of farmers from Salcete are now coming together to revive agriculture via community farming. “Around 2.37 lakh square metres of fallow land will be brought under cultivation in Salcete in the coming season. These fields are located at Chinchinim and Navelim, besides Sarzora and Betalbatim,” Furtado said.
He added: “While Chinchinim and Navelim will go in a big way to revive agriculture with the two villages expected to bring two lakh square metres of fields under cultivation. Sarzora will add another 25,000 square metres to paddy cultivation. At Betalbatim village, the farmers in the area have been into paddy cultivation. But, another group of farmers have joined hands to bring their fields under cultivation this season.”
The Agriculture officer has said the Agriculture Department has set in motion the process to provide the help and assistance to these new farmers in the form of subsidies.
