OLD GOA
Popularly known as ‘Bheej Mata’ or ‘Seed Mother’, Padma Shri Rahibai Soma Popere opined that it is important to live an organic lifestyle to stay healthy.
Popere was speaking at a function organised by the Goa State Biodiversity Board to celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity “ 2023 at Neura panchayat hall, on Monday.
Speaking at the function, Popere said that our health depends on what we eat.
“If we eat healthy, we will stay healthy. And for that we need to keep the soil healthy by adopting the traditional organic methods of farming,” she stated.
Popere further said that organic seeds will give produce without any fertilisers while the hybrid seeds will not give produce without the use of fertilisers.
“Therefore, it is important to return to the age-old methods that our forefathers used in farming,” she added.
Popere further said every village should have a seed bank which will lay thrust on local seeds and urged that such seed banks should be started in Goa as well.
Speaking on the occasion, St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar praised Popere for her work in propagating organic farming.
“The khazan land in the State is rich in nutrients, which does not require much fertilisers, and the Goan farmers should emulate the Seed Mother in cultivating their fields the organic way,” Borkar stated.
“We used to have 28 different varieties of local rice but today the farmers are cultivating hybrid rice varieties,” the MLA lamented.
Meanwhile, Borkar painted a grim picture as far as the biodiversity of the State is concerned as he said that it is under attack in every nook and corner.
“The pace for urbanisation has meant that the hills are getting converted into concrete jungles which ultimately affects the biodiversity,” Borkar stated and opined that the holding of functions on biodiversity will have no meaning if the same is not put into action.
Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral, GSBB chairman Pradip Sarmokadam, Goa State Pollution Control Board chairman Mahtesh Patil, Neura sarpanch Sunita Naik and others spoke on the occasion.
GSBB expert member Rajendra Kerkar proposed the vote of thanks.
