The women from Adnem, Balli, and Quepem have been diligently upholding the tradition of cultivating sweet potatoes without chemicals, providing their harvest to the markets in Curchorem and Margao. Despite their dedication, they encounter numerous obstacles, including transportation difficulties and the challenge of securing selling locations on footpaths and roadsides, as Goa’s horticulture department does not recognize their sweet potatoes.
These industrious women engage in a labor-intensive process that encompasses land clearing, harvesting, and selling, yet they seldom achieve substantial profits. The absence of adequate selling spaces, coupled with transportation costs and adverse weather conditions while operating in open markets, exacerbates their difficulties. Furthermore, the threat posed by wild animals that damage crops at night necessitates their vigilance, compelling them to guard their fields and complicating their efforts even further.
Despite their considerable impact on local markets and their advocacy for organic farming, they have yet to receive any support from the government. They are now appealing to the Goa government to incorporate their sweet potatoes into the horticulture procurement program, which would enable them to save time, concentrate on increasing vegetable production, and safeguard their crops from potential damage.
Datta Velip, a female farmer, states, "Animals such as bison, peacocks, and cattle pose a significant threat to our crops." Purva Velip, who has been growing sweet potatoes for over 40 years, adds, "We display our produce along footpaths and roads, and if we do not sell everything by the end of the day, we are left with the burden of carrying the heavy unsold items back home." She further emphasizes that assistance from the government and ministers would be greatly beneficial. The entire cultivation process incurs various expenses, and she expresses a desire for the opportunity to store their produce in horticulture facilities.