Take up agriculture to preserve Goa’s essence: Ferreira
ALDONA: Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira said that agriculture is part of Goa’s heritage and urged Goans to promote this activity to preserve the essence of the state.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the improvement of the retaining wall and existing footpath at Lankdem, Carona on Monday.
Ward member Seby Fernandes, villagers and residents were present.
Ferreira said that the bundh was dilapidated, and the work was a longstanding demand of the locals.
The Water Resources Department (WRD) has approved the proposal at Rs 18.5 lakhs and work has been tendered, he said.
“Water used to enter the fields, making it uncultivable. People have told me to increase the height of the wall, so I will submit this proposal and get it approved by the government. I thank the WRD minister Subhash Shirodkar for taking keen interest and pursuing this matter and getting this approved, as well as the engineers concerned,” he said.
Stating the agriculture is part of Goa’s heritage, the MLA appealed to people, especially the youth, to come forward and preserve this tradition.
“Our culture is not only about churches, temples and places of monuments. We have the bundhs, dykes, water channels and sluice gates. This is our heritage. We need to promote these kinds of things and encourage them. We can sustain Goa by itself and not rely on outside states for agricultural produce and food items. We can be self-sustaining as we have been before. I appeal to everyone: maintain the essence of agriculture and you will maintain the essence of Goa,” he said.
“We need to complement and congratulate our ancestors who have been undertaking agriculture. There is no change in history. The only change we see is the change in depletion of these good works and finishing of our lands. I thank the farmers, and due to them the fields are being cultivated. I am happy that people are cultivating their fields, they have a sense of agriculture and that is returning to the land,” he said.
He called upon the youth to carry forward agriculture in the state.
“I am eager to see youngsters coming forward in agriculture, or else the fields will get spoiled and no one will take this forward. We must encourage our youth and children to do these noble works. Agriculture used to be a noble job, but now people want white collared jobs. People want to rise up and go abroad. I don’t blame people because of the prevailing conditions here. I think we should not lose sight of our land,” he said.
“The government held a big programme on ‘save soil’ by getting Sadguru. They spent money, I don’t know why. But we see forests are being destroyed and hill-cutting is going on. This just becomes a stage event. Goans have always saved soil,” he added.
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