Farming in the middle of concrete Panjim!

One of the more pleasing sights, as one drives past the increasing number of concrete edifices in Panjim city are the vast tracts of farm lands in Taleigao. Such an absolute joy to see hardworking farmers bending down and sowing paddy in the monsoons and cultivating  vegetables during the winter.

Who are these wonderful people? And how do they continue to pursue the centuries-old-profession in the face of rapidly changing times. I decide to end the suspense by simply walking down to the farms and meeting the farmers a couple days back.

A friend points me to Candido Dias (51). The evening, I visit Candido’s farm, he is bent over a brinjal field intently plucking small brinjals. He is using a stick to pluck the vegetables. “If I don’t use this stick, the thorns will prick me!” he says and continues with his task. He explains that the small brinjals are relished by the  cosmopolitan customer, while the local Goans still prefer the ultra-large local brinjals. “You can make lip-smacking fried slices from these,” Candido says as he shows me one of the jumbo varieties.

According to Candido, he has been on this two-acre farm in Taleigao ever since he was 10 or 12 years old. “ My father taught me the ropes and I have never done anything else in my life,” says the thickset  farmer.

The soft spoken man quickly lists out the challenges of farming in the middle of a fast emerging concrete jungle. “There is constant pressure to sell our land. That is why we formed the Progressive Farmers Club of Taleigao of which I am the chief promoter. Our club tries to keep the 100-odd farmers in Taleigao within the fold, resisting all attempts to sell out to developers,” Candido says.

There are many problems being faced by the Taleigao farmers. However, water logging, sewage water getting released into their farms and well water being taken away by water tankers are the key worries. Candido rues the fact that despite repeated complaints, the relevant government departments have never paid heed to their problems. Pointing to some waste lands on neighbouring farms, Candido says, “Some farmers are so fed up with the water logging that they have stopped cultivating their land.” According to the Taleigao farmer, the stagnant St Inez creek is one of the reasons accentuating their water logging woes. “In my father’s time, monsoon water from our fields found an easy passage into the St Inez Creek and onwards to the sea. Increasing construction activity in Panjim, release of sewage into the creek have clogged the once, free flowing waters of the St Inez creek,” says Candido.

However, Candido has a kind word for the government. “The Horticulture department buys our vegetables every day and we even run a horticulture department supported vegetable kiosk from our farm here in Taleigao. This sustains us and keeps us going,” says the farmer.

Candido is also indebted to the training received from Hiralal Prabhudessai, an ICAR ( Indian Council for Agricultural Research) scientist who undertook a workshop for the Taleigao Farmers Club in 2011. “Mr Prabhudessai taught us how to cultivate French beans on creepers and also exhibited the technique to grow strawberries in thermocole pots using cocopeat ( coconut choir),” Candido says.

The challenge of growing strawberries in the heart of Panjim, took Candido to the hills of Mahabaleshwar to learn the techniques. The good news is that Candido actually succeeded in growing strawberries in early 2016. However, he could not repeat the feat this year due to prolonged ill-health.

Today, Candido works on the farm with his wife Remediana and daughter Agusta. The prime winter vegetables grown by Family Dias include brinjals, tomatoes, pumpkins, bottle gourds, beans and ladies’ fingers.

Going forward, the Dias Gen Nxt is also ready. Says daughter Agusta, a trained computer hardware technician. “I am into farming full-time. My friends tease me, but I want to show them that there is absolutely no shame in growing and selling vegetables for a living,” says the determined young woman.

Candido hopes and prays that these farm lands of Taleigao will stand the test of time. “I will surely grow strawberries next year and call you,” says the jovial farmer.