MARGAO
Devastated by the rampant discharge of sewage from neighbouring Margao, farmers cultivating the fields at the picturesque Salpem lake at Navelim had left the fields fallow over the last three decades.
A year after the fields were revived by the farmers with help and assistance of the Paddy Man of Goa, Fr George Quadors, the Salpem fields have been found to be free from weed and also does not require fertilizers.
As the farmers began harvesting the paddy, they received a pat on the back from Fr George Quadros for their grit and perseverance in reviving the decades old fallow fields.
Like last year, Fr Quadros and the farmers are looking forward for a bountiful harvest of paddy this year too. After a prayer service thanking the Almighty for the bountiful harvest, Fr Quadros told the media that Navelim has done well over a period of time. “The area under cultivation has also increased. The crop is looking good though it has suffered because of excessive rains”, he said.
Saying the farmers from Navelim have been very cooperative, he said the local farmers have all come together with the one objective of reviving the fallow fields. “The farmers of Navelim have been very cooperative. They have come together and have been present for every occassion since the time the process of reviving the fields began”, he added.
He added: “The beauty of Navelim village is that the farmers have come together and they are staying together and are determined to bring all their fallow fields back to cultivation”.
Commenting on the Salpem lake fields, Fr Quadros said, “The fields are very rich, very, very rich I should say. Amongst all places, this particular place is not infested with weeds. Most of the farmers have given up cultivation because of high cost of weeding. Salpem fields is an exception”.
He added: “This place also does not require fertilizers. All that is needed here is transplant the paddy, wait for paddy to grow and take a bountiful harvest”.
Saying cheers to the Navelim farmers, Fr Quadros wished them the very best, while promising his full support to realize their dream of getting the entire Salpem fields back to cultivation.
To a question on the area covered by the cultivation this year, Fr Quadros said “To be precise, we have covered around 1.5 lakh square metres of area this time round. We had aimed at reaching 2.5 lakh to three lakh square metres, but could not achieve the target for want of proper access to the fields”.
He added: “Right now, there are blockages in the fields for certain reasons. The problems, I guess will be sorted out before the next season”.
President of the Salpem Lake Farmers Association Prof Antonio Alvares said the farmers with the help of Fr Quadros will take agriculture forward in the coming season with the support of the Goa government.
