MARGAO
A week after the Navelim farmers took the historic decision to revive farming, tractors are all set to roll into the fallow fields at the once picturesque Salpem lake early next week on May 16.
Abandoned by the farmers after the fields were left devastated by sewage discharge from neighbouring Margao, tractors owned by the Paddy Man of Goa Fr George Quadros will kick-start ploughing operations in the fields.
Navelim Sarpanch Paul Pereira informed on Friday that Navelim Parish Priest Fr Gabriel Coutinho will bless the ploughing operations in the presence of other dignitaries, marking the beginning of revival of agricultural operations at the Salpem lake.
Pereira has appealed to the farmers in particular and villagers in general to lend their cooperation to make the experiment a big success.
Around one lakh square metres of paddy fields at the Salpem lake will be taken up for cultivation in the ensuing season.
Fr George Quadros pointed out that the Navelim project is the initiative of the local farmers and villagers and that he would be only providing logistics support as a service provider.
President of the newly elected Navelim farmers club Antonio Alvares said the farmers who own fields at the Salpem lake are all anxiously waiting for the ploughing operations to kick start early next week.
