MARGAO: Goencho Ekvott (GE) has played a vital role in assisting local youth in ploughing paddy fields that have been lying fallow for over 25 years in the villages of Pale and Velsao, covering an extensive area of 2.8 lakh square metres.
GE took the initiative to provide a tractor for this purpose, enabling the cultivation of these neglected fields. One local man, Mifroy D’Costa, took it upon himself to approach landowners in these villages, seeking their consent to cultivate the paddy fields. The combined area of over 2.8 lakh sqm being brought under cultivation is a historic milestone, as it marks the revival of a large area of land that had remained uncultivated for a quarter of a century.
Orville Dourado Rodrigues, a founder member of GE, expressed gratitude to Mifroy D’Costa for his initiative and emphasized that he has become a role model for the farming community in Goa. The efforts of this young farmer align with GE’s mission of protecting the environment, while also upholding centuries-old traditions that contribute to self-sustainability in food grain production.
In light of this successful endeavor, GE made an appeal to Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, requesting the formulation of a special first-year, one-time grant to motivate aspiring youth to cultivate fallow land. GE also expressed their appreciation to Moreno Rebello from the MARC Farmers Curtorim group for providing the necessary machinery to support this agricultural revival.
