Captured by : PG1. LEAD_2
This Sunday, December 4, a green revolution will start again in Margao. The Goan Farmers Market is a venture by sisters Chiara, Sheena and Anne Viegas, and Ian Menezes, and will be held at House no. 14 on Abade Faria Rd, Opp. Lar de Santa Clara, Near Ram Mandir in Margao.
So what makes this interesting venture so? The movement and the produce is mostly homegrown and homemade. There will be local fruits and vegetables, fresh cow’s milk, homemade ghee, local brown rice, cold pressed coconut oil, spices, pickles, masalas, sweets and so much more. One will even find handmade soaps and other products. And, apart from that, there’s be food to eat and much to drink.
The vendors come in from in and around Margao and will be together in one place to sell their wares. After all, that’s what a farmer’s market is all about, a place where farmers and other producers mete their customers directly. It’s a way to cut out the middlemen, hence making products more affordable and also ensuring that producers get their proper income.
In Goa, the farmer’s markets are not like in Europe, America or Australia, where they begin in the morning and go on for the entire day. Here, things work differently, hence the market will begin in the evening at 4pm and go on until 8pm.
The idea of a farmer’s market seems to be working in Goa. Organisers in Panaji seem to be loving the idea of hosting such events and now, the third edition of the Goan Farmers Market in Margao (the first was in May and second in October) proves that there are many people who come out to support the local economy.
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Goan Farmers market is organised with the aim of promoting Goan produce. It is a platform for local farmers to sell locally grown produce directly to the consumer. It also gives people an opportunity to meet and get to know their farmers and neighbours and thus helps community building. We encourage people to buy local and eat local. Locally grown food is fresh, healthy and is environment friendly as it has travelled a relatively short distance to get to your table. We also want to encourage farmers to cultivate their land versus selling it for development.
Chiara Viegas e Tulkar, organiser
