MARGAO: In a historic move, the fields around Saipem lake in Navelim were brought under cultivation after over three decades on Tuesday.
This was also done in the presence of around 200 students from the village who witnessed the farming first-hand and gleaned the importance of agriculture.
The event was organised by the Navelim panchayat’s Village Development Committee (VDC) in coordination with its Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) and Don Bosco Agricultural Unit led by Fr George Quadros. A prayer service was also held.
Experts like Agnelo Furtado, President of the Chinchinim Agricultural Club (CAC) and Comunidade who mentored the Navelim farmers were also present as well as others like Santan Rodrigues, Chairperson of the Curtorim village BMC.
Speaking to the eager-to-learn students, Fr Quadros pointed out this has been a tradition of their ancestors who would get into the fields to cultivate food crops.
They learned about transplanting machinery, and how it is cost effective, efficient and reduces the dependence on labour.
The farmers recounted that in the past, they were unable to carry out farming in these fields due to sewage contamination.
They added that their ancestors would be proud as they are carrying forward the work of their parents and grandparents.
It may be recalled that planning for this event began a few months ago, when the Navelim VDC invited the farmers to come together and take up this initiative as a community.
A farmers’ committee was also formed for the same, while various government departments like Water Resources, PWD, Sewerage Corporation were contacted to address the obstacles that the farmers were facing.
Fr Quadros urged the farmers not to be demoralised if the first season is not so good as he emphasized that this is a process that would take a couple of years to show results. “To take on a challenge, we have to start somewhere,” he said.
