Uday Sawant
Valpoi: Progressive farmer Vinayak Balkrishna Sawaikar or ‘Dada’ from Sattari was awarded the Krishi Ratna during the Liberation Day celebrations at Panjim.
He presently owns almost 10 acres of agricultural land, in which he grows areca nuts, coconuts, cashews, mangos, papayas and other products. He also uses compost and not chemical fertilizers, just like his forefathers used to do, as compost would help protect the soil and the biodiversity.
Vinayak is known for finding his own way to develop agriculture; he researches and uses new techniques for cultivating various crops without the support of experts.
He and his older brother Gurudas Sawaikar manage their farms, which are at Patwal. The village is almost nine kilometers away from Valpoi town and is surrounded by illegal stone quarries, but Sawaikar and his brother have managed to keep their land green
When contacted, Vinayak stated that he is not overjoyed with the award, but satisfied with what he had given to the agriculture sector. He stated that the award was “just a formality” and that his dedication towards agriculture was what mattered.
