The flood waters in Goa have slowly receded and signs of normalization have surfaced. The big worry however is the damage to crops with the initial sowing washed away and an estimated crop loss extending to over 1,500 hectares. A severe blow has been dealt to the ambitious community farming experiment, including the one at St Estevam that grabbed headlines last year.
But while Goa picks up the pieces and undertakes an assessment, the flood situation is neighbouring Belagavi remains a cause for serious concern since bulk of the State’s essential supplies comes from there. The navy has continued aerial rescue operations in the region and people have been moved to relief camps. Trucks may be slowing making their way to Goa, but the overall scenario on essential market supplies remains grim. Prices of vegetables and fruits have skyrocketed. In some cases, there have been price hikes to the tune of 300 per cent and essential commodities have become scarce.
Since the Belgavi farmers too are badly hit, the prices are not going to stabilize so soon and this is going to give Goan households the shivers. This price surge is also going to have a ripple effect on other consumables and livestock. Add to this a bleak start to the fishing season with fishermen advised not to venture deep into the sea due to inclement weather conditions. Leave alone households, even the hospitality industry will be badly hit and will be forced to effect a change in their food pricing.
In such a bleak scenario, the State government must step in and take consolidated measure to insulate Goans from the steep price hikes. The Belagavi flooding could be an eye opener for Goa. We need to set up our own yards like Belagavi and Bengaluru rather than relying extensively on other markets. Yards are centres for collection, sorting, grading, processing, packaging and distribution of farm produce. Vegetables and fruits at the Belagavi yard are sourced from other markets in Andhra, Gujarat, Nashik, etc besides those closer to the region like Kolhapur, Sattara and Sangli. It will not only open up job opportunities, but will help to stabilize the market uncertainties and control pricing since the middleman will be eradicated. Government must activate the Goa Horticulture Corporation in this direction.
A few brighter days and Goa limped back to life. The flood-ravaged residents of Sal who were evacuated returned back to their homes. It’s time to introspect once again. Where is Goa’s disaster management? It is the bravado of the firemen and the courage of locals that saved the situation. The trail of destruction that has been left behind is still not cleared and authorities have turned a blind eye. Collectors who head the disaster management teams have done an initial assessment of the damage caused, but there is no action on the ground. Assessment cannot be reduced to only a numerical figure. Clearing and rebuilding work has to start in right earnest. It’s an irony that two huge banyan trees have fallen on the road at Sirvodem, Navelim and they have remained there for eight days. Does anyone care? The administration must swing into action and salvage the situation.
