ASSAGAO: Agriculture is not merely about planting crops and waiting for their harvest; it’s a vast and intricate field where the possibilities are endless. Despite the perception that agriculture offers limited financial returns, this sector has tremendous potential, especially in areas like grafting. Grafting plays a vital role in preserving extinct or endangered tree species and enhancing the productivity and quality of fruit-bearing trees.
In Bardez, the Agriculture Department at Mapusa, under the dedicated guidance of Sampatti Dhargalkar, is making significant strides in increasing the area under cultivation. Their efforts are focused on attracting young individuals to agriculture by educating them through various initiatives - talks, seminars, workshops and practical demonstrations. Among the many hardworking officials, two men, Navnath Parab and Dhananjay Malik, have been quietly but effectively promoting grafting for the past 15 years. Their efforts have not only benefited the farmers but also contributed significantly to the department’s goals.
Grafting is an essential agricultural technique that involves joining parts of two plants so that they grow as one.
Grafting has gained popularity because it encourages fruit trees to yield fruit much more quickly than those grown directly from seeds. Typically, grafted trees begin to bear fruit within a few years, unlike seed-grown trees, which can take much longer. Navnath Parab and Dhananjay Malik have been mastering this art of grafting at the Mapusa Agriculture Office. During the monsoon season, they focus primarily on mango grafting due to the availability of mango saplings. However, Navnath notes that this year, obtaining saplings has been challenging due to excessive rainfall.
After the monsoon season, they turn their attention to grafting other fruits such as avocado, guava, lime, and even pepper plants, which can be grafted and maintained as bush pepper plants. “We take pride in sharing our knowledge and are keen to demonstrate grafting techniques. It is crucial to preserve our heritage of fruit-bearing trees, which was passed down by our ancestors, for future generations,” says Dhananjay Malik. Once a grafting process is completed, it takes about three weeks for the graft to become self-sufficient and mature, ready for planting.
For Navnath and Dhananjay, grafting is more than just a job; it’s an adventure that allows them to create new grafts with potentially unique flavours while still preserving the original varieties. Many of these grafts are distributed free of cost during the MLA plant distribution programmes, and the remaining grafts are sold to farmers. Mangoes, particularly the ‘Cardozo Mankurad’ variety, are in high demand for grafts. According to Navnath, there is a widespread belief that avocado trees take many years to bear fruit, but grafting has changed that perception by significantly reducing the time to yield.
Navnath emphasises the importance of creating awareness about the preservation of old mango varieties that are at risk of extinction. The sale of land and the subsequent cutting down of mango trees contribute to the loss of rare, old species, which many people may not even be aware of. This loss is a significant concern for those who value the preservation of biodiversity.
Throughout their 15 years at the Mapusa Zonal Agriculture Office, Navnath and Dhananjay have grafted and distributed thousands of plants. Their most significant achievement came last year when they successfully grafted and sold 6,000 mango plants, evidence of the increasing interest among people in preserving mango trees. “It was a big achievement for us and our colleagues as we managed to make and sell 6,000 mango grafts last year. This is a record of sorts and shows that people are coming forward to preserve mango trees,” Navnath proudly shares.
He adds that grafts do not grow large immediately, and it typically takes about four years after planting for the first fruits to be harvested. For Navnath and Dhananjay, their work in grafting and helping farmers over the past 15 years has been deeply satisfying and rewarding. They firmly believe that people, particularly the youth, should learn this art and practice it on their own trees to preserve them. In doing so, they can help ensure that the rich diversity of mango varieties is not lost due to deforestation and urbanisation, which threatens to leave us with only a few remaining varieties of this beloved fruit.