JOSEPH FERNANDES
joseph@herald-goa.com
ALDONA: Manohar Bablo Sankalkar, a 63-year-old farmer from Quitla, Aldona, reminisces about the traditional way of farming he has been practicing since leaving school at a young age. For over 50 years, Sankalkar has worked tirelessly in the fields, keeping alive age-old techniques like crushing paddy with his feet, an art that has now become rare as machines take over.
Reflecting on his youth, Sankalkar recalls, “My parents were farmers and passed their skills on to me. We used to dig fields by hand with a spade, taking days to prepare the land. It was hard work, but it had a rhythm and purpose that made us feel connected to the land. I took on every field task, from digging, planting, and manuring to harvesting, winnowing, and the traditional way of paddy threshing with my legs,” he says, adding that machines now accomplish in hours what they (farmhands) did in days.
This evolution has simplified farming, but at a cost. He laments the wastage brought about by mechanised harvesting, which crushes the hay beyond use. In contrast, traditional foot-crushing preserves hay, an essential resource for feeding cattle, drying fish, and even boiling paddy.
Sankalkar is among the few who still perform the labour-intensive, foot-crushing technique, a task often done under the scorching sun with six others working in unison.
Yet, despite the deep respect he holds for this tradition, Sankalkar acknowledges that machine use has practical benefits. “It’s faster and reduces costs for farmers. But the traditional way may soon vanish, as young people today are unwilling to work under the hot sun.”
Changing weather patterns have only added to farmers’ challenges, with irregular rains and sudden storms damaging crops. This unpredictability, coupled with rising costs and labour shortages, makes farming increasingly unsustainable for many, leading farmers like Sankalkar to seek government support.
“Children think farming is only for the uneducated,” he remarks. “They prefer office jobs or moving abroad. Even though some youths want to farm, financial constraints and a lack of encouragement hold them back.”
“I do other types of work when I’m not farming. I clean rooftops, paint, plaster, and perform small maintenance tasks. I sometimes think about how I might have enjoyed an office job, but I wasn’t lucky enough to pursue that path. My education ended in the sixth grade, yet I have no regrets. Farming has given me a life of purpose and pride, it has kept me strong and healthy, and my family remains content,” he quips.
In a heartfelt appeal, he urges younger generations to preserve the fields and their heritage: “ For those who consider farming a lesser trade, I would say it has its own dignity and worth. Without farming, many people wouldn’t have food on their tables. I appeal to the younger generation to come back to the fields and preserve our agricultural heritage. Farming isn’t just a job; it’s a way of life. It’s a bond with the land that goes beyond profit and loss. I hope more young people find value in this life and take pride in it,” he concludes.