05 Dec 2022  |   07:12am IST

Quepem farmers cash in on cucumber crops

Radhika cucumber yields much more than the local varieties; provides gainful employment during the monsoon when vegetable farmers have little to no work; profits are substantial

Christanand Pednekar

QUEPEM: Tapping the monsoon and the vital assistance offered by the State Agriculture Department, just 71 farmers in Quepem have managed to produce  95 tonnes of the Radhika variety of cucumber this year. In the forefront of the bumper crop are the villagers of Kajur, whose dedication to the cause and industriousness to ensure a bountiful harvest have most certainly paid off.

Tulshi Ulhas Gaokar is a shining example. She sowed cucumber seeds over just 500 square metres of land this monsoon and reaped as much as 5,847kg of cucumbers that generated an income of Rs 1.6 lakh.

The rains provide the ideal conditions for cucumber cultivation, and the crop is known to take three months to bear fruit. Comprising 95% water, cucumbers are much sought after in Goa for their hydrating value. They are largely used in salads and are often pickled too.

Anant Gaokar, who also grows the Radhika cucumber, said it produces better yield than local varieties and provides able employment during the monsoon when vegetable farmers have little to no work.

“By introducing avenues like cucumber farming, the State Agriculture Department has opened up new opportunities for us. Very little labour, time and investment are required to grow cucumbers, while the profits are substantial,” he said.

The initiative has attracted unemployed youth, too. Kajur local Vishant Gaokar has teamed up with his sister and other family members to cultivate cucumbers on a small patch of land. “I thought it is wise to do something instead of sitting idle, and realised that cucumber farming is actually quite lucrative,” he said while urging more rural youth to take up the occupation.