MARGAO: The traditional toddy tapper community of Goa has demanded that the State government come out with special schemes to help them address the financial and practical difficulties they face. Toddy is distilled into coconut feni, and is also essential to staple Goan dishes like sanna, and to make coconut vinegar as well.
Anthony Fernandes, a toddy tapper from Cuncolim, pointed out that their financial overheads were very high and that they need assistance from the government, either in terms of facilities or schemes, to help them continue the dying occupation.
He lamented that the youth from the toddy tapper community have chosen alternate career options such as working in the service sector, on cruise ships or in foreign countries.
Besides that, finding labour has also become an issue.
They say they also face hurdles in the business of collecting ‘sur’ (sap) because the people who own such trees do not call toddy tappers as often as they did in the past. In addition, the sap is also sold at a very low price.
Mario Coutinho, ex-secretary of the Toddy Tapper Association in Goa added that they are hopeful that the Chief Minister will give them an audience so that they can share their grievances and address the issue of the dwindling numbers of people engaged in the profession. The number of toddy tappers in almost every taluka of the State has fallen drastically since 2018, except for Sanguem taluka. (Refer infographic)
