Parishioners of St Alex Church Curtorim in action on the fields.
MARGAO
Around 30-40 hectares of fallow land has been brought under cultivation this current season, taking the total area under paddy cultivation in Salcete taluka to over 5130 hectares.
Areas such as Betalbatim saw additional three-four hectares of land being brought under paddy cultivation in the taluka, informed Margao Zonal Agriculture Officer, Sheriff Furtado.
Cultivation of paddy was also taken up by the Parishes in Salcete with the priests leading the parishioners in cultivating paddy on land owned by the Church.
In Curtorim, Parish Priest Fr Joseph Salema and Assistant Parish Priest Fr Jackie Albuquerque of St Alex Church, Curtorim led the parishioners in cultivating the Church field. This is the second year that Fr Joseph Salema has taken the initiative to cultivate paddy on the Church land.
In his message inviting parishioners to join the initiative to cultivate the fields, Fr Salema had reminded that Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao has encouraged Priests to take up cultivation of barren paddy fields in order to show concern for Mother Earth.
A number of Parishioners had descended on the fields to undertake paddy transplantation after a short prayer by Fr Salema.
The Margao Zonal Agriculture Officer, Sheriff Furtado said that around 5100 hectares was under paddy cultivation in Salcete taluka. He said another 30-40 hectares of land has been brought under paddy cultivation this season.
On damage caused by the incessant rains, Sheriff pointed out that large tracts of cultivate area is submerged under water at many places, adding that the exact nature of damage would be known only after the flood water recedes. “So far, we have received a couple of applications for relief over the loss. We come to know the exact loss after the water recedes”, he added.
Agriculture Director Neville Alphonso also echoed similar sentiments. He said the department has received complaints of paddy submerged under water at many places, in both North and South Goa. “We will assess the situation only after the flood water recedes”, Alphonso added.
