MARGAO: Farmers from Loutolim and surrounding villages convened recently, to address the pressing issues facing their community and agriculture at large. The meeting, held at the BigFoot venue in the village, was a melting pot of ideas, concerns, and innovative solutions aimed at revitalising the age-old profession of farming in the region.
Initiated by Professor Quintilian Falerio, a retired headmaster and farmer, the meeting focused on collective approaches to modern agricultural issues.
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Key topics included the establishment of a Farmers Producing Organisation (FPO) to foster unity and collaboration.
Fr George Quadros, who is fondly known as the Paddy Man of Goa, shared success stories of mechanised farming from Curtorim and Chinchinim, highlighting the potential benefits of technology in agriculture. However, he also shed light on past issues caused by human factors, particularly the mismanagement of sluice gates, which had a detrimental impact on farming operations.
Innovation was a recurring theme, with farmer Babush Alves from Loutolim expressing his intent to experiment with light machinery in the khazans, the traditional Goan agricultural fields recovered from saline marshes. This initiative could pave the way for reducing the reliance on manual labour, which has become increasingly unsustainable due to rising costs.
Valerian Fernandes, secretary of the Carbot Tenant Association, addressed the need for regular maintenance of bandhs (embankments) and proposed a boiler setup for paddy processing in Loutolim. He suggested that delegating specific responsibilities to enthusiastic association members could mitigate the human factor issues previously mentioned by Fr George.
Another stakeholder, Avelino Menezes raised concerns about water management and the impact of the Paroda pipeline leakage on the fields, which affects the soil’s condition year-round. Cezar Soares discussed government subsidies and the potential benefits of procuring equipment from out-of-State sources to facilitate experimentation in the khazans.
J Santano Rodrigues, a key organiser, stressed the importance of unity among the three tenant associations in Loutolim and the formation of clusters for effective collaboration. Senior farmer Mathew Olivera emphasised the challenges of labour and the necessity of multi-cropping.
Another stakeholder, Carmelito Andrade from Nuvem advocated for timely actions by the Water Resource Department (WRD) and adherence to traditional schedules for water management, which have proven effective over generations and are crucial for preserving biodiversity.
Similarly, Leslie Pereira from Cavelossim, an advocate for beekeeping, spoke about the importance of maintaining green spaces and how beekeeping can serve as an indicator of environmental health and an additional source of income for farmers.
On another note, Edward Mendes from Raia introduced the concept of advanced farming techniques in the khazans, combining multi-cropping with poultry and fish breeding – a proposal that was met with enthusiasm from his fellow farmers.
Richa Dessai, a Masters student in Agriculture, provided an academic perspective, focusing on community perception of khazans and the dynamics within khazan associations.
Dr Pradip Sarmokadam, the Goa State Biodiversity Board’s (GSBB) Member Secretary (MS) concluded the meeting with insights on value-added products and the potential for branding to enhance farmers’ incomes.
The meeting was moderated by noted community leaders Jack Mascarenhas and Julio Monteiro.
