GREENING MINDS: GREENING GOA The Botanical Society of Goa held its annual general body meeting [AGM] on Sunday 19 February, 2006, at the World Wide Fund for Nature- Goa Unit office in the Science Centre complex, Miramar. Plant lovers from all over Goa attended.
The BSG is registered in Goa under the Societies Act, 1860 on 05 May, 1990. It is a pro-Nature activity group, not normally involved in advocacy. It interacts with both, NGOs and Government agencies. Prizes were awarded to the winners of the 11th annual Home Garden Competition in the amateur and profesionally assisted categories of home gardens separately. The BSG acknowledged with pride the contibution of Mr.P.G.Kakodkar, including the roadside trees on the Miramar marine bypass and the work initiated at Goa University under the umbrella of the WGKF. Dr.Ajit Shirodkar, Chairman of the Western Ghats Kokum Foundation (WGKF), stated that while the WGKF and the BSG were two separate legal entitites, they worked in unision on many issues. This was imperative for quick and sustained growth of horticulture in Goa. While the WGKF's focus is on Garcinia indica, it is willing to collaborate on other plant issues as demonstrated at its Biodiversity Project at Goa University. Mr.P.G.Kakodkar may have worked all over India but his roots were firmly in Goa, the state in which he spent his childhood and to which he has dediciated the rest of his life. The Secretary, Ms Christina de Souza, in her report acknowledged the support of the Department of Science ,Technology & Environment, the Corporation of the City of Panaji, the ICAR-Goa, and other Government and autonomous agencies as well as NGOs in presenting the successful annual events like the Konkan Fruit Fest and Plant Utsav. The Treasurer presented the accounts for the year 2004-05 audited by the Chartered Accountants. Both the report and the accounts were approved unanimously. Dr.K.G.Hiremath proposed that a common interactive workshop be held for all environment related NGOs in Goa to emphasize the commonalities and work on some more projects jointly. The other activities proposed are: #Collaboration with Mormugao Municipal Council to conduct the GREEN MORMUGAO exhibition 3 to 5 March, 2006 # Continued interaction with the Government for 'Geographical Indications' registration of feni for Goa. #Survey and documentation of cultivated cereal, fruit, spice and vegetable crop varieties in Goa. #Publication of quarterly BUDSPORT newsletter and project reports. #4th Konkan Fruit Fest at Panaji with CCP from 5 to 7 May, 2006 with the spotlight on Jamun or Jamlam [Eugenia jambulana], its juice, seed powder and wine as a health drink suitable for diabetics. #Interaction with the Goa Knowledge Commission to include agricultural topics in language (English,Hindi,Konkani,Marathi,etc), Foundation Course and Environmental Science [EVS] curriculum at school, higher secondary school and college levels as well as for creating a suitable framework for non-formal and formal courses in horticulture at the UG and PG levels.. #Interaction with the Goa Board of Education for updating the curriculum for vocational courses in Horticulture and Floriculture. #Technical support to institutions to conduct training courses in gardening;fruit cultivation and solid waste management. # Support to Festival of Plants and Flowers at SFX school, Siolim, and other member institutions. # Hikes and Nature Trails for members and invitees. # 9th PLANT UTSAV in November, 2006 #12th Home Garden Competition in January, 2007. Life membership is Rs.1000/- only for individuals, while Patron membership is Rs.10,000/-. One member in each type joined the BSG on this occasion. The BSG also has an interactive net group [EMAIL PROTECTED] to which any plant lover can subscribe. The group is moderated only to control spam and off-topic postings. Plant related postings on vermiculture, EM, bio-diesel welcome. Miguel Braganza President, BSG.
