Sancoale farmers to cultivate land at Irlem after 15 years

TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
CORTALIM: Come May and 90-odd farmers of Irlem Bailem Khazan in Sancoale will revive an activity which once seemed a distant dream.
The Khazan fields which had been lying fallow for over 15 years will be ready for cultivation, thanks to politicians and government officials who have all contributed to make these fields, once considered the rice bowl of Sancoale, fit for cultivation.
Explaining the efforts put in these regard, Irlem Bailem Khazan Chairman Agostinho Moniz said that the sluice gate and the bund which was in dilapidated condition was repaired by the agricultural department at a cost of Rs 6 lakh.
“I first approached Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar when he had visited Cortalim. He immediately told me to approach our local MLA Alina Saldanha who also gave us a lot of help in expediting the works and personally visited the site on two occasions,” Moniz told Herald.
Also appreciating the help offered by the Agriculture Department officials, Moniz said its junior engineer Rajendra Verlekar would be present at the site even beyond his office hours to offer his guidance. While also expressing gratitude to the mamlatdar of Mormugao, Moniz added that the other two committee members, Lazarus Carvalho and Suresh P Naik, also played an important role.
Moniz however said that some work was still pending. The three waterways passing through the fields have been submerged and they have to be opened up for flow of water.
“To clear the waterways would entail an expenditure of around Rs 3.5 lakh. However due to fund constraints, we will clear only one waterway by using the committee funds,” said Moniz, adding that in May they would be using tractors to plough the fields.
When asked whether the fields would be finally tilled given that the farmers had lost the habit of cultivation for so long, Moniz said that he had taken up this task only on one condition that the farmers would cultivate their fields.
However, another farmer expressed skepticism. The farmers are habituated to use the fields for pisciculture and make easy money, he said.
This was however dismissed by Moniz who said that he had already warned the farmers that if they fail to cultivate the fields, he would resign from the post.