Revival of the once devastated fields of Salpem lake at Navelim are now being brought under cultivation, thanks to the farmers and Fr George Quadros.
MARGAO
Come Thursday and farmers having agricultural fields at the once picturesque Salpem lake, Navelim, but devastated by sewage discharge from neighbouring Margao over the years, will add another feather to their cap.
Buoyed by the roaring success of their attempt to revive the fallow fields at the Salpem lake in the last season through community farming, wherein they reaped bumper harvest of 20 tons of paddy, farmers under the banner of Salpem Farmers Association have decided to double the area at the lake under paddy cultivation in the ensuing season.
As against an area admeasuring one lakh square meters of fields, left barren after the fields were devastated by the rampant discharge of sewage from adjoining Margao over the last three decades, brought under cultivation last year, farmers have resolved to cultivate a total of two lakh square metres of paddy fields this year.
The farmers had a meeting with the Paddy Man of Goa, Fr George Quadros, who has been instrumental in revolutionizing agriculture in the state with mechanized farming, on Tuesday wherein it has been resolved to bring an additional one lakh square metres of fallow land under cultivation.
President of Salpem farmers Association President Antonio Alvares said the farmers had a meeting with Fr Quadros on Tuesday, wherein he guided the farmers how to go about bringing additional land at Salpem under paddy cultivation.
“Last year, we had revived paddy cultivation at Salpem lake after over three decades by bringing around one lakh under cultivation. This year, we have all resolved to bring an additional one lakh square meters under cultivation”, he said.
Antonio Alvares is the petitioner in the Public Interest Litigation filed in the High Court over the rampant discharge of sewage into the Salpem lake from neighbouring Margao. While the High Court has issued a host of directions since the PIL was filed by Alvares, a lot needs to be done to plug the sewage discharge in the water bodies and the Salpem lake.
He said the farmers have decided to invite the student community when the cultivation of the paddy season starts from coming Thursday.
Pointing out the problem faced by the farmers from the menace of stray cattle, Alvares said the farmers has knocked the doors of the government agencies to take up the work of fencing the fields at the Salpem lake.
“Funds to the tune of Rs four lakh will be required to put the fencing in place. We have asked the agencies to support the fencing project. Let us hope for the best”, he said.
