------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Guardian Angel Polytechnic promote organic farming ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Guardian Angel Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology Curchorem, also known as Guardian Angel Polytechnic (GAP), is promoting organic farming with the assistance of Fr Inacio Almeida, SFX. The institute, in collaboration with Niagara College, a Canada based culinary institute is formulating a viable project in order to give impetus to this project in Goa.
The Institute is hopeful of getting CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency), a Canadian government enterprise, to fund the project. Initially, the project area would cover the Sanguem and Quepem talukas and eventually it would encompass the entire State.
In September, 2002 a team from GAP, Fr Inacio Almeida, Fr Anthony Castello, and Fr Frank Mendes, visited Toronto to spell out the project details. Fr Henry D'Souza, the new manager of GAP and holding a masters degree in social work, has taken up the project forward.The project visualises the provision of assistance and outreach, via GAP, in order to increase the environmental, economic, cultural and health sustainability of Goan agriculture specially through organic farming.
Fr Almeida, a Pilar priest, is doing a successful pioneering enterprise in this field since several years at Bhattlem, Pilar. His farming activities have earned him Goa government's recognition which has conferred on him the State Best Farmer award at least on two occasions. He is also a recipient of several accolades at various levels.
He has employed unconventional methods without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and has employed a Japanese effective micro organism technology, known as EM technology.The proposed project has several goals which include creating an environmental awareness campaign, creating a network of the local farmers, establishing an information resource facility, training of farmers and provision of marketing assistance to farmers in agri-based business development, EM awareness and organic fanning techniques and organically grown produce. This linkage will help farmers in a big way by reducing transportation costs fetching higher prices and their high quality products. In turn, the tourism operations will benefit immensely through the opportunity provide its guests, both domestic, foreign.
Presently, two Canadian interns, namely, Ian Duncan and Sandy Detillieux, sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), are working on the project details. They are currently engaged in launching a public awareness campaign, along with GAP, about the beneficial impact of organic farming through interactive and informative presentations. Initially these sessions have begun in Curchorem and will be conducted in other parts of Sanguern and Quepem Talukas and later in other parts of Goa.
GAP, being a member of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), hopes to gain assistance from the Association. This project would also need the involvement of all people of Goa, especially those in tourism and agriculture industry which will boost the prospects of the project and bring about sustainability in the farming community and the economy of Goa, says a press note issued here.
For further information contact Goa Organic, c/o Guardian Angel Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology (GAP), Curchorem, Goa-403 706. One can also call Fr Henry D'Souza, at 2651 982 or e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------- HERALD 26/10/03 page 5 ----------------------------------- ======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy =======================================
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