PANAJI, 30 June 2025: As the kharif season gets underway in Goa, farmers at the scenic Salpem lake fields have launched paddy cultivation with a target to bring nearly three lakh square metres under production this year.
The effort, now in its third consecutive year, is being spearheaded by the Salpem Lake Navelim Farmers Union under the guidance of Fr. George Quadros, popularly known as the “Paddyman of Goa.”
Farmers say the project is about far more than just planting rice. “This is about protecting our heritage and healing Mother Nature,” said one farmer involved with the initiative.
Reviving these fallow lands has become a symbol of community spirit, environmental commitment, and agricultural pride. The farmers thanked the Village Development Committee of the Navelim Panchayat, the Agricultural Department (Salcete Zone), the Goa Mechanical Cultivation Department, and the Goencho Xetkar farming collective for their essential support in providing resources, equipment, and manpower.
Despite their determined efforts, the farmers reported that around 40% of the fields could not be cultivated this year, largely due to repeated challenges: continuous inflow of raw sewage, poor tractor access, and thick mud deposits caused by nearby highway construction activities.
“This is the third year, and we still face the same issues,” said one farmer. “We’re losing good land. The pollution is affecting not just farming, but our water, our air, and our health.”
The Union has taken the matter to the Bombay High Court, seeking intervention to protect the Salpem lake fields from continued degradation.
“The Salpem Lake fields are not just ours,” added a member of the Union, “they are part of Goa’s environment and belong to future generations.”
Image credit: risingkashmir.com
