Proud to hail from a village that was 100% into farming 18 years ago, it saddened him to see the once lush green paddy fields turn fallow over time. Wanting to revive and rejuvenate the neglected agro-economy, this son of the soil vowed to write a green future for a remote pocket in Bicholim “ Sikeri-Maye, a mere cluster of 45 houses and 350 people “ most of whom have turned away from agriculture.
A progressive farmer, Kamalakant Tari’s sincere efforts have successfully brought under cultivation over one lakh sq mtrs of fallow local land in just three years “ this includes clearing and cleaning khajan land, repairing a bund with his own money and digging 1.2 km long trench alongside the river as well as procuring seeds and sowing paddy on khajan, midland and upper land. The land belonged to local farmers who were unwilling to till it.
Today, standing amidst the paddy fields that not only grow the long lost, forgotten land races but also raise a seed bank of 70 rare varieties from India, including the medicinal Black Rice “ Tari advocates how embracing simple, natural but result-oriented methods can add value to farming and bring smiles to the faces of farmers. “In the next five years, I wish to see Goa as a state where all farmers indulge in organic farming and rear indigenous breed of cows. The agricultural land that is fallow will be brought under cultivation too. Those interested in agriculture will be offered guidance and helped to avail various government schemes. Use of bio gas will be encouraged. A market will be created for agricultural produce,” Tari spells his dreams.
He has chalked out five ambitious projects which he has submitted to the government of Goa. “Of the five projects I submitted, establishing a mega seed bank is the largest as it involves every farmer in the state in some way or the other. Some will be raising the seeds while others will be using them.”
Mentioning the current process, Tari point out that the Goa government buys expensive seeds worth Rs 4-5 crore from other states and supplies to the Goan farmers at a subsidised rate along with a promise to buy back the produce or offer support price. “If we raise the required seeds in Goa itself, the state will be saving a huge amount that goes into purchasing the seeds as well as distributing them at a subsided rate. Also by connecting the seed bank project to indigenous breed of cattle and organic manure, we can ensure that the local farmers use natural, organic fertilisers to grow the seeds. Thus we can totally discard the chemical fertilisers and pesticides that go into the seeds, which again get passed on to the crop. The seeds which our local farmers raise would be totally organic which further will ensure organic yield when used by other farmers while sowing. This cycle would continue ensuring that the rich local varieties of paddy are grown, preserved and distributed to farmers as healthy seeds,” states Tari as there is no control on the manner in which seeds are grown outside Goa.
Associated with Bharat Swabhiman Kisan Panchayat Goa and Gomantak Gausevak Mahasangh, both having their headquarters at Sikeri-Maye, Tari is tirelessly working towards uniting, educating and uplifting the farmers in Goa. He strongly believes that agriculture and dairy farming go hand in hand and are interdependent in maintaining the balance in the ecology. Having rescued, treated and rehabilitated 250 odd stray cattle in the past 18 months, Tari is taking care of five special breed animals (Khillari, Devni, Red Sindhi, Sahiwal and Gir) along with other indigenous breeds here. Sick animals are treated and even operated. “We bring in sick cattle with kilos of plastic in their stomachs but the rate of their survival is minimal even after operation,” he laments.
A thankful Tari explains, “The land where our gaushala stands belongs to the D’Souza family. Ninnette D’Souza was kind enough to offer it free for this purpose. She has also offered us another upper land admeasuring 40,000 sq mts for agriculture where our sample varieties of paddy stand.” Another adjacent plot of 6000 sq mts also has been offered to use free for 10 years by, Narayan Tari's family where another cattle shed would be erected.
Admitting that identifying, procuring and sampling 70 land races, was a tedious process, Tari thanks Goan scientist Dr Shilpa Bhonsle who helped Tari by sharing her inputs and samples.
The other projects include motivation to local farmers to procure healthy pulses and grains and rear desi cows for dairy production, organic supply of vegetables and fruits, etc. The agriculture department has given provisional approval for Tari’s project that was to be funded by the Central as well as State government. “But it is pending for technical issues,” he mentions.
Tari has been organising the Krushak Gaurav Melava since 2013. Lat year it was held in Pernem. This year Tari intends to organise it in his home taluka Mayem on November 29-30 and December 1. “We are planning to invite Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishna to guide the gathering,” he concludes.
Photo Credit: Sagun Gawade (
Photo Caption: 1 “ WALKING TALL: Kamalakant Tari standing amidst a traditionally Goan (but now forgotten) paddy variety in one of the sample fields he sowed at Sikeri-Maye in Bicholim taluka
2 “ The abandoned, injured and ill stray cattle rescued, treated and rehabilitated at Gomantak Gausevak Mahasangh, Sikeri-Maye in Bicholim
