SATURDAY, JULY 06, 2024
Frazer Andrade
Traditional methods of irrigation are those which have been used in the state since years together. These techniques are more affordable but however, may be quite labor intensive than the available modern methods. Some of these methods such as Check Basin Method and Furrow Irrigation Method are still followed today.
Check Basin Method (Mherãni) is one of the best methods of irrigation for levelled fields. Here, the field is divided into basins according to their water capacity. A small drain is then made to connect these basins. The topmost basin in the field is the main source of water in this method.The method is simple, inexpensive and does not lead to soil erosion, since the rainwater remains within the basin. A large area can be efficiently irrigated if this method is adopted.
Furrow irrigation (Bhandiani) is very prominent for crops planted in rows. Furrows are created along the sides of the crop planted in rows and the water is allowed to flow between two rows of these planted crops. “If the furrow is filled, there is no need to provide water again for at least two days, in case of leafy vegetables. It is comparatively cheap but is labour-intensive,” says Inacina Miranda from Margão. Food crops planted in large areas get good amounts of water by this method.
Canal irrigation is yet another technique seen to be used in Goa. Canals in parts of south Goa were built in 1952 during the Portuguese regime. The one seen in Chandor originates at Bhat (Quepem), passes through the municipal areas and the villages of Paroda, Chandor and Macazana. ‘Char’ (passages for water) system of irrigation is often seen in Coconut groves in Khazan areas like that of Assolda, South Goa. ‘Chars’ are tranches created in line with Khazans. These get filled up during high tides, thus providing a regular supply of water to the coconut trees around. ‘Collxeani/Bendlani’ is a technique of watering the crop using clay/copper pots. Here, the pots are filled with water from field ponds or wells and used for irrigation.
‘Ghuddeani’, a method almost dead in today’s time, involves use of a bamboo or tin basket. The basket is held by two individuals via ropes made of coconut choir or fibers obtained from the coconut palm petiole, by standing opposite to each other, across a water body which is generally a small field pond. Water is then allowed to fill the basket which is quickly emptied into the other side of the water body. The passages created for the discharged water to flow were referred to as ‘Antonn’. “These ‘antonns’ had to be de-silted and cleared of all weeds and twigs before the monsoons commenced”, mentions Ida de Paula Dias, an enthusiastic farmer from Orlim.
She further mentions that, if there was too much of water in each of the quadrant of the field, it would be diverted into the neighboring quadrant via pipe-like structures made from hollow trunks of palm trees or otherwise sculpted from wood. “These, to the best of my memory were also referred to as ‘Chollã’, she says. It was not rare to have neighbors quarrel with each other, turning backs against one another for stealing water from each other’s quadrant of field space by diverting the water into one’s own quadrant. In times of water deficiency in one’s area or sometimes releasing excess water into someone else’s quadrant with an intend of causing it to flood. These types of immoral acts were generally carried out late at night when no one was around.”
‘Laath’ is a technique which makes use of a lever constructed using wooden longs or coconut tree trunks. The pot used for drawing water from the field pond in this method was traditionally sculpted from the trunk of a palm tree (bello maad) and was referred to as ‘Koinne’.
“Chollani’ is a technique of irrigation which is also a lever-based method. Here, two wooden beams (generally bamboo or coconut tree trunk) were erected vertically opposite each other across the edge of a water body. A horizontal beam was then tied to both of the vertical beams. A very long wooden beam is then placed crossing perpendicularly onto the horizontal beam, with some weight attached at one end. Half the way along this long beam was attached a wooden canoe like container, which was open along one of its ends. This canoe like container played the role of transferring the water from one side to the other when the long beam is raised and lowered by feet or hand,” says Joyce Carvalho from Carmona.
Cleto Avito Fernándes, a proud farmer from Portáis, Panjim states, “I use pots (colxe/bendlã) for irrigating my crops. Initially, I used plastic pots but considering the contamination of the field soil with microplastics given out of these aged plastic pots, I’ve opted for steel substitutes," further mentioning that earthen pots are difficult to source, fragile and expensive. These traditional techniques were sustainable, however labor intensive. Undoubtedly, modern farming demands faster output and thus farmers have switched over to contemporary techniques of irrigation.
“Shifting to modern techniques is not a bad thing to do, but forgetting the traditional ones is not right,” he says. There is a need to document traditional farming in all means at the earliest, before it is lost forever. For farming around one’s house, one would often depend on well water for irrigation. ‘Bendlã or colxe’ were used to draw the well water. While doing so, to the bad luck of the person drawing water, sometimes it so happened that these pots fell into the well. One would have to eagerly wait for the day of cleaning of the well in the month of May to recover them. Some families would also have a cluster of iron hooks which were suspended down into the well using a coir rope, so as to get back these pots.
“The future of irrigation lies in advancements in technology and sustainable practices. This includes the integration of remote sensing, automation and data-driven decision-making to achieve even greater precision and efficiency of water application. Additionally, the development of alternative water sources and improved water storage techniques will contribute to more sustainable irrigation practices,” says Nidhi Raut Desai from Assolda, South Goa whose family has been actively involved in farming.
