Team Herald
Margao: Majorda watermelon will make a comeback, Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai said optimistically, speaking to media persons at a cluster meeting organized by Goa State Biodiversity Board at Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex on Monday evening.
Pointing out though small in size, Goa was very rich in biodiversity and it was necessary to preserve the biodiversity for posterity.
“Our bhende, our water melons our tambdi bhaji have to have a global appeal and be available globally,” he said, while revealing that Goan bhende has travelled to Amsterdam in a container along with many other Goan vegetables, including the famous beans.
“I did try to push for tambdi bhaji, but there was a question whether it would be acceptable in the European market,” he said, adding that Goa cannot remain a museum, but has to become dynamic and adapt to the times.
Earlier, Vijai symbolically cut the Moira watermelon that was specially cultivated from the original seed of the variety that was found with one farmer and has now been multiplied with other farmers in Bardez.
Even the Majorda watermelon could make a comeback in the near future, the Agriculture Minister said, and revealed plans to prepare a proper agriculture field next to his house, where such melons could be grown. “Agriculture is not liked because it is labour intensive and not glamorous and I shall try to let people see the beauty of it by setting up the plot near my house,” he said.
Vijai distributed the induction certificates to nine biodiversity committees that were constituted namely Dramapur Sirlim, Sao Jose de Areal, Navelim, Rumdamol, Davorlim, Camurlim, Curtorim, Deussua Chinchinim, Ameblim and Guirdolim.
Basilio Fernandes Sarpanch of Camurlim stressed the need for support from all departments to the biodiversity committees to function properly. The Chairman of Curtorim Biodiversity Committee lamented that even though their public biodiversity register was prepared two years ago, it is yet to be published.
“What we require is administrative support that is unfortunately not forthcoming,” he said and added that this proves to be a big discouragement for the functioning of the committees.
