SALCETE LOSES CHARM FOR PADDY CULTIVATION Armstrong Vaz [EMAIL PROTECTED]
CUNCOLIM: Abundant water and barren paddy fields has become a regular feature in the villages of Assolna, Velim, Cuncolim, Ambelim, Chinchinim, Dramapur and Sarzora in the last five to eight years. Teh villages commonly referred to as AVCC were once the pride of Salcete with every inch of paddy field cultivated during both seasons. Over the last two decades, the situation has worsened on the agricultural front in these villages and a host of factors have played havoc with agriculture. Cuncolim has 12 bunds which are constructed every year during the months of Octover and November on the numerous rivulets running through the village. The twelve bunds used to supply water for irrigation pruposes during the season, for several decades. One of the band, Naya bund, used to supply water to Velim, Assolna, Ambelim and the neighbouring villages. Water from Naya bund used to reach the villages through a well-roganized distribution network of seasonal bunds at Banda-Assolna, and some other parts of Velim, but unfortunately the bund was not blocked for water for the last two decades. The construction of the 12 bunds also maintains the water level in the wells in Cuncolim throughout the year. The advent of the Selaulim water supply for irrigation purposes in areas of Cuncolim changed the water scenario in the village. The release of Selaulim water for irrigation and the existing water supply from the 12 bunds of Cuncolim has rendered many paddy unfit for cultivation for both the seasons. In Sanvorcotto, some paddy fields are flooded throughout the year with waist deep water. How are we to cultivate these fields, asks a farmer whose family has been cultivating the field for the last seven decades. Farmers in the area lamented the excess water released in the field. A few years ago, former MLA late Dattaram Desai had placed the woes of farmers before the then Agriculture Minister Dayanand Narvekar. The assurance given by the minister to look into their woes however did not materialize and thus farmers in Cuncolim continued to be neglected. Farmers also complained that the agriculture department had failed to carry out any study in the area over the excess water release and the resultant barren fields. The excess water has also added to the miseries of farmers involved in vegetable plantation. In the current rainy season, most of the paddy fields in Cuncolim are barren, except for pockets in veroda, Talvonda and Simplear. Large tracts of paddy fields at Panzoroni, Biunsa, Murida, Sanvorcotto, Culvaddo, Zoripott and Pariaband remain uncultivated. In neighbouring Assolna too, large tracts of paddy fields at Banda, Orel, Bainfoll and also in Ambelim lie barren. Velim village too faces the same dilemma. Few areas in Cutobana close to Betul village are cultivated for the current season. Chinchinim has the largest area under cultivation among the four villages. Paddy fields are blooming from the Assolna bridge to Sucaldem and extending upto Tolleaband and also farming activity is in full flow near the Chinchinim football ground. Some parts of the Baida paddy fields are also under paddy cultivation. Vast tracts of fields at Dandeavaddo, Durga, Sarzora and Baida have been left bereft of farming activity for the last five years. Lack of farming activity in the areas have given a chance to some people to dump waste in the paddy fields. People say that the high cost of labour, cattle menace, abundant water in some areas and lack of water in other areas forces farmers to leave the land uncultivated. Some farmers pointed out that some tenants had sublet their fields to people from the Velip community from Barcem, Morpilla, Kitla areas but the exercise too failed as the farmers from Barlem, Morpilla abandoned the activity after a few years, terming it uneconomical. With the Selaulim water supply for irrigation making inroads into Velim, Ambelim, Assolna, Betul and Cutbona areas, questions are now being asked whether it will be an improved farming scenario or the same grim story. (Gomantak Times, Panjim, July 12, 2005).
