Van Mahotsav is an annual tree-planting movement that has been celebrated in India
since 1950, by then Union Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr K M Munshi, to
increase the area under forest cover. Since then, Van Mahotsav has been a
week-long festival of tree plantation, organised every year in the month of
July all across the country.
In Goa, the festival is not celebrated for just a week, as Goans
grow plants and trees right from June to August. Miguel Braganza, Secretary of
the Botanical Society of Goa, informs that the festival is celebrated in July
as it was initiated in Delhi where the monsoons begin late, while Goa is hit by
the monsoons in the first week of June. “There are several schools and clubs
which consult with the Botanical Society of Goa about which fruit trees can be
grown, and we even organise talks on kitchen gardening. While villages and
housing boards have more space to grown trees, in the cities people prefer a
small kitchen garden. Even fruit trees like lime and cashew can be grown in a
16-18 inch pot. The size of the fruit will be the same, but there will be a
less quantity of produce,” says Miguel, who has been growing trees for the past
35 years.
Many schools and
colleges have already completed their tree plantation project. “Some schools
give plants from the Forest Department to the students, and ask them to grow
them at home. Interestingly, schools in Bardez are more informed about tree
plantation as a result of the annual Festival of Plants, which has been held
for the past 25 years at St Francis Xavier School, Siolim. This year, the
festival will be held on August 19, 20 and 21, 2017. Many schools participate
in this festival and there is more enthusiasm in their own schools and there is
more sharing of information,” says Miguel, who is also an assistant professor
at College of Agriculture, Sulcorna, Quepem, Goa’s first agriculture college.
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Over
the years, there has been more awareness about tree plantation and schools like
Sharada Mandir and colleges like St Xavier’s College, Mapusa and Parvatibai
Chowgule College, Margao have started courses on environment. “Sharada Mandir
has an Environmental Club and also an Environmental Awareness class for Class
IX students; while St Xavier’s College has a summer course in May, on Kitchen
Gardening; and Parvatibai Chowgule College has Waste Management and Kitchen
Gardening Course. There is much more awareness in Goa. However, the tree
plantation drives should take place earlier than July as the survival of trees
is lower. If a tree is grown between June 30 and July 15, it has a higher
chance of striking roots, compared to later in the year. The soil is cold with
constant rain and the rate of survival is higher,” explains Miguel.
