Hinterland farmers selling juicy mesh melons and fresh leafy vegetables near the Margao police station. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO: Juicy mesh melons and vegetables from the hilly areas of hinterland talukas of South Goa have found its way to the commercial capital.
Take note, farmers say this is just the beginning of the new season, further saying that city dwellers can look forward for the locally grown fruits and vegetable from the hinterland areas in the city in coming days.
Sadly, these Niz Goemkar farmers from the hilly areas of Quepem and Cancaona talukas are still looking forward for the day when the government provides them a makeshift market in the city to sell their produce.
In the absence of any market platform, these vendors have been selling their produce from the footpath of the Old bus stand, opposite the police station. In fact, the footpath and the drain opposite the police station had been the makeshift market of these hapless farmers, who sell their produce by facing the brunt of the Margao Municipal inspectors.
Says Laxmi Narayan Gaonkar: “We put in hard work and grow vegetables and fruits in our backyard in the villages of Barcem, Morpilla, Pilla, Subdolem and other areas. We had approached the Margao Municipal Council in the past to provide us space to sell our produce, but in vain”.
Left with no option, these vendors occupy the road side corners and drains in the city to sell their produce and make both ends meet. They start their day early morning when they travel to the city in hired vans with their produce. By 8 am the footpath opposite the Margao bus stand is literally flooded with the fresh juicy mesh melons and vegetables.
Kamlavati Velip said she has been coming to the city for the last 20 years, eking a living by selling their home grown fruits and vegetables. “Margao Municipal officials often come and drive us out and stop us from selling fruits and vegetables. We had asked the civic body to provide us some space to sell our produce, but in vain”, she added.
Rajashree Gaonkar is another farmer, who has been coming to the commercial capital from the hilly areas of Quepem. “We grow fruit and vegetables and get the produce to the city. We have been left with no option than to sell our produce on the city footpaths and drains”, she added.
Former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar had first mooted the proposal to allot temporary space in the commercial capital for the farmers from the state’s hinterland talukas to sell their produce. The proposed makeshift market, however, never saw light of the day till date.
Successive governments too promised to work out a solution after taking into account the plight of the farmers, but the promised makeshift market has remained a distant dream till date.
