The Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) is probably the first government body in the country to give biodiversity conservation a bit different view. After successful implementation of ‘tagging system’ to products derived from local bio-resources, the Board has now begin production of these products, along with local communities residing within the biodiversity zone, ensuring they get Access Benefit Share (ABS). Along with biodiversity conservation, the aim is to give a sustainable livelihood to the women from the mining belts, whose families are reeling under economic crisis due to closer of the iron ore industry since March 2018.
The brand name ‘GoVan’ is the first value added products from bio-resources grown in Goa under the project ‘Biodiversity Conservation through Livelihood Interventions in the State’.
On a pilot basis—which is giving fruitful results—around 14 women from a small village of Talemata in Pale-Cotombi, Bicholim taluka, have processed over 1,000 jackfruits, 2000 mangos, wild fruit and berries- sourced from local farmers at a good value. Chips, pickle, squash, sweet dishes are the products which are sold in the local markets as well as purchased by individuals directly from the Center. The upcoming products are Awala candy, Awala Supari, Korgut rice; Jyoti Single boiled rice and much more.
“We process, brand and sell the product. The centre runs on the profit. The entire profit is shared with the women who are working at the centre. Only 0.1 per cent of the profit goes to GSBB towards conservation and protection of biodiversity,” GSBB member secretary and project in-charge Pradeep Sarmokadam said to HERALD.
“What is interesting is that all those who purchase the products will be able to scan the QR code on the packaging. This code will help them to learn the entire story behind the produce, including the fields from where the fruit was harvested, the farmer involved and how the by-product from the fruit was extracted,” he explained.
The board is planning to set up five other centres mainly in the mining belt with a sole aim of providing livelihood to this local community. “The initiative is just launched but we are getting very good response. The women are working very hard to make it a success,” Sarmokadam said.
He explained that the initiative is expected to give a major boost to the women, whose families, for ages, have been depending on iron ore industry for survival and are now struggling to exist. “Government is making all efforts to resume mining operations but until then, we have to look for an alternative. And this is one such alternative,” Sarmokadam said.
While 14 families are directly benefiting from the project, being directly involved in the production, indirectly it has helped many others like vehicles used for transportation; farmers from whom produce are sourced, etc.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the local biodiversity management committee and the panchayat organized training for the women involved at the processing centre, while it was Goa Shipyard limited (GSL) who provided the funds under corporate social responsibility (CSR) to help set up the state-of-the-art plant.
The in-charge said that the project has helped even the farmers, who were on the verge of cutting their fruit bearing trees, failing to find takers for the fruits.
The Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant is the chairman of the project, which will run for a period of seven years from now. The brand will be integrated with some State sponsored schemes to give it a further boost.
