CANACONA: The traditional activities that took thousands of years to evolve had taken a back seat in Canacona during last few decades as most of the locals ran after quick and fast successes.
But the recent lockdown and staggered supply of food items has brought the locals back to the doorstep of traditional activities.
As the nation enters the 12th day of the three-week lockdown announced by the Union government, locals are seen sweating it out in their fields growing vegetables as the demand for the locally grown produce is growing by the day. It’s more for their self consumption, though.
“With nothing else to do, I have procured vegetables seeds from a friend and have already sown them in the backyard of my house. With scarcity of food items affecting every one, I felt like growing the vegetables. As a child, I had learnt vegetable cultivation from my parents, this lockdown has in fact opened my mind and I am teaching my three school going children the same,” explained a middle aged man from Galgibaga.
“Many people around have taken the same initiative,” he added.
Also with no seafood available in the markets the residents of Mashem, Galgibag, Talpona, Sadolxem, Rajbagh and Agonda are getting their clothes damp to gather oysters and clams which make delicious delicacies.
Anglers are not to be left behind as they hook fish like Red Snappers, Reaf Cods to name a few to take home to the delight of the women at home.
Some more enterprising are even casting nets in whatever shapes and forms in the shallow waters in nearby rivers to add variety and taste to their menu.
There have been instances during last few days that the farmers who didn’t bother to pluck jackfruits from their trees are seen adding value to their products by converting them into fried finger chips.
“The efforts of the Agricultural Department in imparting education to the farmers through various field trips in and out of Goa are helping us in these trying times,” said Ajay Naikgaonkar, a farmer from Agonda.
Geographical location of Canacona Taluka and the challenges thereon together with the survival skills of the older generation that are now passed to the younger generation is the outcome of the recent catastrophe to befall on the mankind due to the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.
“Each and every house has atleast one member in the family who is employed well, so there is no need to work hard, and as a result the fields lie barren in the taluka,” lamented an elderly man from Gaondogrem.
“But with the onset of the Coronavirus, the mindset of the locals has been changed as many youth have realised that it is necessary to cultivate vegetables for their personal needs at least,” he added.
“People have realised that traditional agriculture that involves the intensive use of indigenous knowledge, traditional tools, natural resources, organic fertilisers is the only way forward as the concept of ‘grow your own food’ is gaining widespread acceptance,” emphasised Naikgaonkar.
