When most Goans think of migrating to the UK or settling overseas, there are a handful of ‘niz Goemkars’, who will still prefer to stick to their roots and be content with whatever earnings they draw from their humble businesses. Due to financial constraints, Alvito Baretto from Dandim, Agasaim, was unable to complete his primary education. But that did not deter him from moving forward and creating jobs of his own, to be able to stand on his feet.In his teens, his mother, late Piedade Baretto would engage in the piggery business and support her family financially. “She would rear around 40-50 pigs at a stretch and would carry out that tedious task with all love and dedication,” informed Baretto. After her death, Baretto decided to shoulder the responsibility and keep alive the traditional trade of the ancestors in the family. In 1998 he built a fence to avoid the reared pigs from going astray.
Today, Baretto has around 30 pigs, both young and adult, and they are taken care of at regular intervals with necessary feed. He collects the waste from two companies at the Verna industrial estate, which serves as a good meal for the animals. It is a regular and routine exercise of collecting waste from the companies and by evening there are four barrels to treat the pigs,” he said.
“The excess waste gets supplied to five families in the village, which helps to earn some income,” he added. With regard to purchase of pigs, Baretto informed that he buys piglets from people in the neighbourhood. And when it comes to sale of pigs, he prefers to sell the matured ones in bulk as it helps to draw around Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000 at a stretch.Besides the business of piggery, Baretto also owns a Maruti Omni and a Qualis, which which he gives on rent as and when required.
“Earlier, there used to be business once in two days. Today, many Goans have gone abroad, while those still in the villages own several vehicles. So business has slowed down, but it continues at a snail’s pace,” he adds. Baretto is a self-made man today as he prefers to learn the skills of driving independently. His brother-in-law owned a Maruti 800, which helped him pick up the required trade efficiently. After garnering confidence, he purchased the Maruti Omni in 2004 and Qualis in 2010. Businesses of piggery and vehicles did not leave this young man satisfied. He went a step forward and in 2010 he decided to purchase and sell tender coconuts along the roadside in Agasaim.
Today Baretto may not be seen at the Agasaim bypass junction selling tender coconuts, but he has his men doing the job for him. “Two employees carry out the task on a daily basis at two different places and they are paid Rs 7,000, besides food, on a monthly basis,” he informed.
This 39-year old could serve as a great source of inspiration to many, who prefer to sell off their ancestral properties blindly, besides giving up their ancestral trade for those few extra bucks drawn by carrying out unsatisfied jobs abroad.
