Well, this incident did happen while I was leading a group of farmers to Maharashtra State in the year 2007 while working at Old Goa complex.
In order to update the farming community about the latest know how in the field of agriculture and its allied subjects, the stress was to showcase practically at an exhibition wherein new technologies, innovative concepts as well as agri-entrepreneurs were brought on one platform so that farmers can visit and see at first hand these new things being displayed for their benefits with the concept of seeing is believing.
So when the Krishi exhibition at Dapoli, Maharashtra State was organised for a fortnight, we were entrusted to select farmers from all the talukas and take them in buses to see the said exhibition on a three-day journey. So ten farmers from each talukas were selected along with three officers and three assistants to handle the study tour.
Farmers from far away talukas were requested to come to Ela Farm the previous day by evening hours and halt at night so that the journey can begin in the morning and those on the way can be picked up during the journey. The three buses with 30 farmers and two officials in each bus left for the exhibition the next day after being flagged off so as to reach the destination by evening hours by having breakfast and lunch on the way.
The team of officials and farmers in their respective buses reached Dapoli in the evening time without any hassle during the journey and made our stay comfortable at the places allotted during our two-day halt here.
The agriculture exhibition at Dapoli was indeed praise-worthy as it was erected in an open ground in the university campus itself with student volunteers explaining in Marathi, Hindi and English languages to the farmers as well as press. The farmers from Goa were really happy that they were able to see so many new innovative ideas, concepts and their knowledge increased many folds by practically experiencing the displayed items as well as packed commodities meant for take-aways to be used on their farms if required.
As we all made our way back to our resting place, one farmer was found missing in the group under my control. We thought that he might have got lost in the crowd at the exhibition despite our keeping five members in each sub group with their team leader so as to avoid any miscommunication.
After making all out efforts to trace the missing farmer, the three officers took an unanimous decision to inform the local police by lodging a complaint of a missing person and also intimated our higher authorities back in Goa about the situation at hand. We were appreciated for taking the right decision and were told to bring the rest of the farmers safely back without any further mishaps.
It was decided that the remaining farmers should return back in the respective buses the next day and one officer was told to remain stationed at Dapoli itself to look after the paperwork and other requirements as might be envisaged with police co-operation. All went well during the return trip and the farmers made their way back to their respective homes the same night.
The truth finally came out. As the missing farmer was from my group, it was my moral duty to do the groundwork of the incident as well as informing the farmers family members about such an awkward incident. We had to take the help of the local staff to reach the house of the missing farmer the next day, where we were in for a rude shock of our life. The missing farmer was found taking a nap outside his house and we were all searching for him in every nook and corner of Dapoli town.
On confronting the said farmer about how he landed back in one piece, he told us that he lost his way at the exhibition and someone guided him to Ratnagiri station on learning that he is from Goa to board a train back. He took a train and came to Margao and from there by bus he reached his house safe and sound without understanding or realising the pain we had to suffer at Dapoli for this particular farmer who was over 60 years.
I submitted a comprehensive report to the higher authorities after this incident so that in future for the study tour, one must take into consideration the following aspect to make it safer and avoid a similar type of incident. The guidelines were on selection of farmers in the age of 30-45 years, update on medical history, willing to learn, be able to adjust outside family life with regards to food and snacks and of cohesive nature to make the trip more enjoyable rather than a painful one which would make the rest of the group uncomfortable throughout the journey.
(The writer is retired deputy director at department of Agriculture, who now handles translation division of Kamat Securities and is consultant at Agri-Horti Consultancy Services)
