PANAJI
The Chicalim Youth Farmers Club (CYFC), a registered community initiative from Chicalim-Goa, marked a major milestone in its global journey with the official launch of its UK Chapter and the appointment of overseas coordinators.
This landmark event coincided with the UK visit of Chicalim Parish Priest Fr Bolmax Pereira, the club’s mentor and noted environmental advocate, who inspired the Goan diaspora to remain rooted in their agricultural heritage while adapting to life abroad.
During his address to 8 members attending the first official CYFC Overseas meet at Bekonscot Model Village in UK, Fr Bolmax reaffirmed CYFC’s dual vision: reviving traditional agriculture and fostering ecological consciousness among Goan youth.
“We grow wherever we go, not only as individuals but as a community rooted in the soil of Goa and flourishing across the world,” he said.
The meet was also attended by the CYFC President Shogun Fernandes, who welcomed the members and gave a call to all the youth from Goa to join the initiative.
“The CYFC Overseas is not just about youth from Chicalim but we wish to gather all the youth from Goa under one umbrella to return to our roots” said Shogun.
Over the years, the CYFC, which is dedicated to agricultural revival, environmental stewardship, and youth empowerment, has become recognised for its environmental campaigns in Goa, which have mobilised young people across Goa to stand for ecological causes.
THE OVERSEAS NETWORK
As part of its international expansion, CYFC announced its newly formed overseas leadership committee comprising Mercy Fernandes (President), Janice Fernandes (Secretary) and Mackenzie Gomes (Treasurer).
The club, which has now grown to 18 members, also unveiled plans to develop a global CYFC network connecting Goans engaged in agriculture in the UK and beyond.
The CYFC Overseas Chapter aims to create a platform for Goan youth to participate in sustainable agriculture abroad, strengthen collaboration between diaspora communities and Goan farming initiatives and to use technology and AI tools to promote education, eco-awareness, and agricultural entrepreneurship.
GOAN ALLOTMENTS, KITCHEN GARDENS
During his UK tour, Fr Bolmax visited Goan families cultivating vegetables and fruits in community allotments managed by parish councils in Swindon.
He also toured several parishioners’ home kitchen gardens, where families are growing herbs, chillies, and local vegetables in backyards and patios, demonstrating how Goans abroad continue to nurture their farming traditions even in urban settings.
He was accompanied by Sancia Dias do Rosario, newly appointed CYFC Overseas Coordinator for Swindon, who guided him through the allotments and explained the local system and range of produce — including seasonal vegetables and fruit crops.
The visit showcased how Goans abroad are keeping their agrarian spirit alive while embracing sustainability in their new communities.
Fr Bolmax commended their efforts, remarking, “Working the soil, wherever we are, keeps us connected to creation and to our Goan spirit.”
DIALOGUE WITH LOCAL GROWERS
While visiting the allotments, Fr Bolmax met Richard, a local British grower, who shared how his passion for cultivation began at the age of seven.
“It’s a lifelong hobby that keeps me active and outdoors,” said Richard.
Fr Bolmax observed that such exchanges build bridges between cultures and provide inspiration for Goan youth in the UK to engage with local agricultural initiatives.
“It’s encouraging to see our young people joining spaces like these, working the land, and learning from local growers,” he noted.
The launch of the CYFC Overseas Chapter marks a significant step in uniting Goans across continents under a shared vision of sustainability and cultural identity. By blending traditional wisdom with modern innovation, CYFC continues to sow the seeds of change — proving that community growth knows no borders.
During his UK visit, Fr Bolmax also made a stop at Burnham Beeches, a historic woodland reserve renowned for its ancient pollarded beech and oak trees—a traditional method of tree management that encourages sustainable growth and biodiversity.
While exploring the reserve, he took particular interest in the diverse range of wild mushrooms, including species such as Amanita muscaria (fly agaric), Boletus edulis (porcini), and Clitocybe nebularis (clouded agaric).
He highlighted how these fungi play a vital ecological role in nutrient recycling and forest health, drawing parallels between natural regeneration and the club’s mission of ecological revival.
Fr Bolmax later visited the Bekonscot Model Village, where he reflected on the importance of preserving cultural and historical heritage. The intricate models of British towns and landmarks, he noted, serve as a reminder that “heritage is not just about what we inherit, but what we sustain.”
Linking this to Goa, he emphasised that initiatives like the CYFC help preserve the agricultural and ecological heritage of Goan communities across generations and borders.
