ANJUNA: In an era where the allure of fast money from tourism has drawn many young Goans away from traditional jobs, 25-year-old Elijah D’Souza from Gumal Vaddo, Anjuna, is charting a different path. An agriculture graduate from Don Bosco College of Agriculture in Sulcorna, Elijah has chosen to dedicate himself to traditional farming practices, believing they hold significant relevance today.
Coming from a touristic village, Elijah had a very clear goal in mind and never felt the urge or need to opt for a tourism-related career, although everyone his age has ventured into it. After graduating, Elijah took the plunge into agriculture, being focused on his goal and where he expects to see himself in a few years.
“For me, agriculture is not just about growing plants but all-around improvement of this wonderful creation. As we march ahead in life, we must use modern knowledge as well as old, good practices to maintain a healthy balance,” says Elijah.
He picks up wet waste daily from three nearby hotels using his modified two-wheeler to feed his pigs, cares for 20 hens and quails, and tends to stray cows. He grows various plants, generates vermicompost, and conducts soil research. Elijah even runs a mobile library, cycling to deliver books to subscribers to promote environmental awareness.
“Goa generates 400 tonnes of wet waste per day, and where is it going? Only to landfill sites or the plant. Our ancestors kept pigs and used kitchen waste for them, hens, and in fields. Today, commercial structures produce plenty of wet waste, and not sticking to traditional ways of disposing of garbage has created a big problem. I’m happy I’ve started this job and am creating a clean village of Anjuna at my level,” he explains.
Elijah believes that
for modern-day youth, there is plenty of scope in piggery, poultry,
and agriculture, provided there is a commitment.
“However, it is a very tedious and lengthy process if you have to obtain health approval for these sectors. People tend to complain about the smell emanating from dairy, poultry, or piggery, and then complaints are made to the health department or panchayat, and strict action is taken against you. This approach of government policy is wrong,” he says.
Elijah has a large farm where he grows a variety of vegetables, spices, and fruits, using hen and pig waste as manure. He has earned rich dividends from his farm. Every three months, he generates 10 tonnes of vermicompost purely from cow dung, which is procured from Maharashtra. His life is centred around animals and plants. He also has a few pet dogs and still manages to care for all his animals and plants. Elijah is rarely found on the phone, as he is busy all day on his farm, caring for his animals or conducting research. He has come up with the unique idea of using citrus fruit skins to produce eco-friendly germ-killing and floor-cleaning liquids, believing that citrus fruits should not be dumped in the ground. His house is a production unit of his ideas, and he feels he still has a long way to go in spreading his message all over Goa.
Waste into wealth: Rearing pigs and poultry can address garbage crisis, generate profits
Elijah believes that if youth start rearing pigs as our ancestors did, a lot of the garbage problem can be solved, and pork meat has a very high market demand. Pigs require hardly any care, and gaunti eggs are also in high demand and have medicinal properties, making the poultry business very lucrative.
“With regards to my wet waste collection, I collect roughly about 70 kg per day of segregated wet waste and feed my pigs, hens, and cows. Each pig eats about 8 kg of wet waste per day. Once these pigs or roosters grow sufficiently in size, I sell them and bring new pigs and new fowls. My plan is to increase the number of pigs and fowls, as there is still scope for more, as lots more wet waste can be brought in. I may need to hire extra hands, but it will surely be profitable," he says.