Team Herald
VASCO: A farmers club run by youth has embarked upon a new mission to promote green revolution by bringing fallow land under cultivation in Chicalim.
The Chicalim Youth Farmers Club (CYFC) has taken up the challenge and commenced paddy plantation in the fields on the occasion of India’s 78th Independence Day.
The event was graced by the presence of South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes, Mentor and Botany Professor Rev Fr Dr Bolmax Pereira, Chicalim panchayat member Roman Vaz, and members of Chicalim Youth Farmers Club and villagers.
The plantation began seeking God’s blessings conducted by Chicalim assistant parish priest Fr Peter Fernandes on the fields, paddy saplings, and the new transplanting machinery. Greg Fernandes and his team of farmers from Nagoa Agriculture and Art Forum, Nagoa, Verna, provided the mechanical support with their two new transplanters.
The CYFC has been cultivating the fields for the past four years, starting from 2020, following PM's Atmanirbhar speech on self-sufficiency.
This year’s plantation faced a huge delay due to heavy rainfall, causing flooding of the fields. Usually, by August, the paddy starts flowering, and the mature paddy crops are cut for the feast of St Bartolommeo (locally known as Konnsanchem Fest) celebrated on August 24.
Captain Viriato enthusiastically participated in the farming, highlighting the importance of revival of agriculture, farmers, food security, and self-sufficiency. He praised CYFC for reviving and cultivating the fields of Chicalim, which weren't being cultivated for 25-30 years.
Fr Bolmax explained the concept of “Atma Nibhartha” and the four pillars of Viksit Bharat - poor (garib), youth (yuva), women (mahila), and farmers (annadaata). He also mentioned the delay in starting paddy cultivation this year due to heavy rainfall and flooding caused by a mismanaged drainage system.
CYFC president Shogun Fernandes explained the working of the Club and the journey in farming. He stated the difficulties faced by the club due to water logging and flooding of fields and how uncultivated fields were being sought after by real estate builders, leading to degraded groundwater quality and soil pollution.
Roman Vaz praised the good work done by the youth of Chicalim and highlighted the importance of taking care of the lands and fields of the village. He also mentioned the unique Pond ecosystem of Chicalimvillage and the need to address flooding and silting issues.
Greg, the transplanting machinery operator, urged the government and local bodies to maintain the roadside drains well so that young and new farmers turning to agriculture are not discouraged by lack of opportunities and services that the machine operators like him can provide.