MARGAO
The fourth consecutive year of cultivation and harvesting at the Salpem Lake fields in Navelim has begun under the leadership of Fr George Quadros, popularly known as Paddyman of Goa, marking a milestone in efforts to revive agriculture after more than three decades.
This year, cultivation has covered approximately three lakh square metres for the first time in over 30 years.
Fr Quadros has divided the harvesting process into three phases to ensure systematic operations. The first phase, which took nearly three days, has yielded around five tonnes of paddy so far.
Despite insufficient rainfall affecting much of this year’s crop, the harvest has been encouraging, the Salpem Lake Navelim Farmers Union said, expressing pride in the community’s efforts to restore and preserve the agricultural fields.
The Union appreciated its president Antonio Alvares and treasurer Sarmento for coordinating the harvesting operations. It also thanked the South Goa Agriculture Department, Mechanisation Department, Goencho Xetkar for providing harvesting machinery, and other government departments and individuals for their support.
What began as a community initiative to bring abandoned fields back into cultivation has developed into a sustained effort to protect agricultural heritage, preserve soil and safeguard local biodiversity.
