Daijiworld Media Network - Navelim

Navelim, Nov 1: The fourth consecutive year of cultivation and harvesting has begun at the Salpem Lake fields in Navelim under the leadership of Fr George Quadros, popularly known as the Paddyman of Goa, marking another milestone in efforts to revive agricultural land left uncultivated for more than three decades.

For the first time in over 30 years, cultivation has covered approximately three lakh square metres this year, reflecting the growing success of the community-led initiative to restore the fields.

Fr Quadros has divided the harvesting operation into three phases to ensure systematic and smooth execution. The first phase, which took nearly three days, has yielded around five tonnes of paddy so far.

Despite inadequate rainfall affecting a significant portion of this year's crop, the harvest has been encouraging, the Salpem Lake Navelim Farmers Union said. The Union expressed pride in the collective efforts of farmers and volunteers to restore and preserve the agricultural fields.

The Union appreciated its president Antonio Alvares and treasurer Sarmento for coordinating the harvesting operations. It also thanked the South Goa Agriculture Department, Mechanisation Department, Goencho Xetkar for providing harvesting machinery, and other government departments and individuals for their support.

What began as a community initiative to bring abandoned fields back into cultivation has grown into a sustained effort to protect Goa's agricultural heritage, preserve soil and safeguard local biodiversity.