MARGAO
Around 50,000 fish seeds were released in the water bodies of Curtorim as the Goa PRIs Union celebrated the village agro-biodiversity yatra.
An Agro-Biodiversity Yatra and Poshan Maah Nutri Campaign 2020 jointly organised by Curtorim Union Farmers Club and anganwadi workers, supported by the Goa State Biodiversity Board, was held in the village culminating in the release of fish seeds in the Mai Tollem water body.
Goa PRIs Union Convenor J Santan Rodrigues said the yatra was taken out to spread awareness on agro-biodiversity by inviting a host of officials, representing various departments and agencies.
“Curtorim has been the rice granary of Salcete. Here, people cultivate fields with the help of the age-old irrigation system. There’s a need to replicate the Curtorim model in other parts of the state,” he said.
Dr Pradip Sarmokadam of Goa State Bio-diversity Board in his brief address guided the participants on livelihoods in the rural areas of the state, while ZAO Salcete Sheriff Furtado dwelt at length on the various schemes available for farmers, including the Krishi card scheme.
Superintendent of Fisheries Department, Chandan; Subject Specialist from KVK (South Goa) GeetaVelingkar; Nodal Officer State Medicinal Plant Board South Goa, ClefaD’Costa; CDPO SalceteRepresenative Clefa Miranda; Curtorim Sarpanch Rui Menezes; President of Curtorim Comunidade and TKH, Wonedolfo Da Costa; Chairman of Curguni Addi Tenants Association, Francisco Dias; Chairman of Ralloi Tolem Tenants Association, Seby Barreto; Asst Parish Priest Fr Braise Lobo; Integrated Farmer Estevan D’Souza; Representatives from CBOs; anganwadi workers from Women & Child Dept; gram sabha members, Curtorim Union Farmers Club Members and others participated in the yatra and the deliberations.
“With active participation and collective action, we can create a viable platform for sharing knowledge, good practices, experience to build need-based skills, systems and synergies for effective biodiversity conservation, food security and the revival of local economy amidst Covid-19 challenges,” Santan added.
