GOANS LET US MAKE OURSELVES SELF SUFFICIENT IN VEGETABLES by Menino Fernandes

There was a time when Goa was self sufficient in vegetables as everything was grown locally. There was plenty of land available for the purpose. The vast fields of those times can still be seen along on both the sides of the road are a reminder of the past. The communidade fields were cultivated during the monsoon where paddy was grown.
The same fields were used to grow vegetables like onions, chillies, sweet potatoes, turnips, chitki, mullo (white carrot), Kaingam (watermelons) etc. Can this be seen now a days? No. Most of the lands of Goa are used by the ugly politicians like Churchill Alemao and the others to construct posh and luxury buildings (flats). They have started filling up the lands and constructing buildings in the place of the fields. Where buildings are not possible they have started mining to destroy the land of Goa.
This is where the state like Belgaum has taken advantage of the situation in Goa. The main cause of Goa living at the mercy of other states sending their product to Goa which is sub standard quality wise compared to the one that is grown in Goa.
My mother hailed from Merces, and as a kid I was brought up by my maternal Grandmother in Merces. I remember even my father though from Valpoi owned a vast field in along the Panjim – Merces road which my uncles were cultivating and growing rice during the monsoons and water melons during the summer.
Not going far in Valpoi my mother use to grow onions, and other baji (vegetables) in a porsum and me and my brother as school kids used to help her in digging the fields (friendly offer by some villagers for growing vegetables) and make our PORSUM. We were yearly self sufficient in Onions and Chillies. I remember before going to school me and my brother along with our mother used to go and water the porsum. We never had to buy onions throughout the year till the next summer came and the procedure would be repeated. Our porsum used to be located about half a kilometer away from our house.
But now the present politicians are grabbing the communidade fields to fill up their treasury and their Swiss bank accounts. Farming is not encouraged by the government now. Agriculture department is a name sake department. The farmers do not get any benefit from the Zonal Agriculture Department. The staff only laze away their time in the office drawing a huge salary from the crooked government.
The result the fields are lying idle and getting deteriorated day by day. No encouragement is given to the students who are doing their Horticulture. The subsidies are there for name sake. For a Niz Goenkar farmer to get a subsidy he has to produce hundreds of documents and at times he even has to prove that he is a Goan inspite of having his birth registered during the Portuguese times.
We say the present generation is running away from agriculture. The question is WHY? If the government encourages the present generation to cultivate fields and grow rice during monsoon and vegetables during summer I am sure that Goa will never run short of vegetable grown on its soil much more tastier than the one brought from Belgaum or other states.
But the present Politicians will lose their grip of the under the table money they get from the vegetable vendors from Belgaum. The Belgaum vegetable traders are making Goans dance to their tunes and leave us at their mercy.
To end up my article I would like to request the Goans to cultivate their fields throughout the season growing rice in monsoon and vegetables in summer thereby we can stop this dependency on Belgaum and other states. We can also kill one more bird along with this step: get the illegal HAFTAS of the present politicians stopped from the out of state traders. From Digamber Kamat to the last minister get their illegal allowance from these vegetable vendors.
Dear Goan youth or the present generation: Graduating or holding university degree does not give us wings to fly up in the sky. Grab Kudou, Pikao and Khorem and start doing fields and let us beat away the outer states and our politicians who are hell bend on destroying our fields and our POROMPORA (tradition). Do not shy away because you are a graduate. Believe me there is more respect in doing fields than serving an outside master in Goa.
Remember this Amonkar or whoever he is, is only bluffing us the Goans but underneath the table he is getting his share. The words coming out of his mouth and the politicians’ mouth are well calculated and in advance informed to the opponents for considerations and to get their HAFTAS and to promote the out of state trade of vegetables.  Let us halt these sale of fields to the outsiders and cultivate our own fields.
So my dear Goans let us make ourselves self sufficient in our needs rather than depend on other states and fill up the bellies of the greedy and gluttonous politicians of the era.

36 comments:

SnehaLata Joshi said...

Tear came to my eyes to read this article. Mr. Menino Sir, I really appreciate the truth in this article of yours and I hope as a mark of respect to you our present generation does what you have requested them to do. I truly consider you as the father of Goa even more than Dr. Jack Sequeira whom I adore and that is because you are trying so much to save our motherland. Hope all the Goans hearken your voice and do what is necessary to do to be self sufficient

Shyam Sawant said...

A very commendable and heart rendering article Mr. Menino de Valpoi. Yes we need to implement your wishes and make your dreams come true. In fact the people of Valpoi should first heed the advice of Mr. Menino who is a brilliant analyser. You are one gifted intellectual Mr. Menino with good brains and above all a good heart which is full of love for Goa and the Goans. May God bless you and your family.

Joe Rebello said...

I salute you Menino for this heart rendering article. Very few Goans think like you do. Everybody is out for short cut to make money, but you, you are selfless and a loving person who thinks of Goa whole heartedly. Wish all our dirty uneducated picgs the politicians were like you. Yes like SnehaLata said I truly say you are the Father of the Goan Nation above all.

Alcantro Carneiro said...

Menino I love you for your love for Goa and the Goans. I hope your efforts do not go in vain. I hope that all the Goans give you the same love that you have to them. You think so much of Goa and hope that one day that your wishes for Goa come trur

Sandesh Gaonkar said...

Yes it is high time we turn our attention to agriculture. We have neglected our fields and have ventured into the modern world. shake up modernisation and come to reality and save Goa from disaster of vegetation.

Oscar Fernandes said...

Mr. Menino as kids we to used to assist our mother in the fields and PORSUM like you say and to be honest we were self sufficient in our stock of onions and chillies. This should be remembered by our elders and force our youth into this field so that our lives may go on as before.

diogofichardo said...

Our forefathers planted the fields with pride every crop had its own season. Goa was self sufficient with minimum import from other states. Today most of the comidade land has been given to Mega housing contractors. Goa does not having a caring Government for the Goans. It is more interested in supporting Migrants that commit crime in Goa. It is time changes are made to subsides farming in Goa and be self sufficient rather than being BLACKMAILED by other states. This is a lesson we Goans have to take on board. New true Goan politicians is the only answer to Goa’s mess, our current government has put us in.
Thanks Menino for the heart breaking atricle, You are a true Goan among Goans.

Salvador Seraulim said...

Menino this true article has brought tears to my eyes; Goans are shying away from their traditional value. I remember the paddy field growers would allow other villagers to plant vegetable and chillies in their fields in the off season. Temporary wells would be dug for watering the plantation patch known as Nerolio. Our elders worked there with pride. The inions would be tied in knots and over the fire place in the kitchen, Red chillies other dried produce would be the provision for the rainy seasons too. With mechanised tools we can produce in larger quantities and be self sufficient.

franco said...

Dear Menino - You brought nostalgic memories of my childhood days. Yes truly it was the same case with us too. Although we were not privileged to have our own agricultural land, the neighbours would willingly help us in growing these essential commodities during the odd season and I remember even getting up early in the morning at 1.00 a.m. just to water the plant due to scanty of water available in those fields. The yield of this spoil would enchant us the rest of the whole season and it would be like using it from our own garden. Now a days you get everything readymade and easy living so people are least bothered to have the hard way. Yearning for return to the same past period of our self-sufficient and unity days. Will our next generation even realize the hardship we have undergone to attain our such feats.

Sandesh Gaonkar said...

Now a days our youth are busy drinking free beer and whisky offered by these rogue politicians to divert them from carrying on with our age old traditions where by they get the chance to sell off the lands to outsiders. Please young boys of Goa wake up and take up the sickle, pickaxe and spade and start eating our own Goan vegetable.

Felix Mascarenhas said...

Well written article Menino, it is true that the chors of Goa are benefitting from the vegetable trade. We have to buy our Goan grown vegetable even if it is a bit costly. This way even our economy will boost. We do not need tourism to boost our economy. Tourism brings in evil but food products grown in Goa sold out brings in good health and good money in the state

Niz Goenkar said...

Dear Menino - You have made alive golden memories of my childhood days. actually on this communidade land beside PORSUM & Horticulture I have intention to start a small dairy farm please revert with yous views. I have my grand mothers field & I have been working in the gulf & UK for
the last 15 years . I want to settle down back in Goa and make our Goa ( A glorious Golden Goa).

NIZ GOENKAR said...

Dear Niz Goenkar, Yours is a remarkable decision and has to be appreciated by one and all. This proves you are person of great worth who knows the value of what you have mentioned in your comment. God bless you and may you be successful in your this GOLDEN PROCESS. NIZ GOENKAR is with people like you all the way - Menino de Valpoi

Niz Goenkar said...

Dear Menino - Viva . Thank you very much. let me inform you that I am from the Village of St Estevao. Jua . Going ahead with your support & for the love of Goa. my humble request to you if at all We Niz Goenkar have a flag or so please let me have one.

NIZ GOENKAR said...

Dear Niz Goenkar, Yes Go ahead and I am with you always and with people like you. It is wonderful to know that you are from St. Estevao Zunvo. I have a friend of mine who is from your place and have visited often St. Estevao. Likewise my best friends mother is from St. Estevao and his uncles are right there in Zunvo. This friend of mine that I am talking about is the cousing of my best friend. Again this friend of mine has bought a farm at Valpoi (my place) and is often up and down there and I used to go there often - Menino de Valpoi

Mike Carvalho said...

What a touching article! Truly brings back golden memories. Goa was a land with abundant food for its people. People of old say that even with no money one could get fresh fish and vegetables for free, however its finite banks have burst open with the population explosion as a result of migrants to support vote banks of greedy politicians and as such goans are at the mercy of neighbouring states for their food.

goenkar arab said...

Mr. M., please come back to Goa and show us how it's done. You sit far away from Goa, with a foreign nationality, and command us to take a pick axe and spade and hoe? If you love your Goa so much, why did you run away? Come back and show us you care. Your next vacation in Goa should last six months to see what I mean. I DARE YOU TO PUBLISH THIS, AND IF AT ALL YOU DO, AM READY FOR YOUR REPLY AND CRITICISM FROM OTHERS.

NIZ GOENKAR said...

Dear Mr. goenkar arab, I am with holding your comment and will not publish it until you first identify yourself and then it will be published as it is. By the way I am not ordering or forcing anyone to pickup the pickaxes and spades go about doing it. I have only suggested and shown an idea as to what can be done to be self sufficient and your name GOENKAR ARAB suggests that you are in Gulf somewhere. Definitely I do not understand where your pride has been hurt in this article. Tell me one thing instead of roaming on motorbikes or doing wrong things and being jobless isn't this a good thing to do?

You do not have to dare me as I am not afraid of you. This is a plain idea from my mind. So first be courageous enough to identify yourself through an email to me (my email IDs are on the site) and as I said I will publish word by word your comment even though you have attacked me in the comment. But be sure to come up decently and politely in the emails. Have a nice day - Menino de Valpoi

diogofichardo said...

Menino De Valpoi, In your article I do not see anyone being pressurised into taking a shovel and pick axe and start planting. It is only those that sit on their backsides and do nothing better with their life will feel guilty reading the article to the point of criticizing you and Niz Goenkar..

Shubash Raikar Panjim said...

Niz Goenkar, Your article should be an eye opener to all Goans, and hope you can come out with some more of the same . Our Goan ministers have shares in the vegetable market in other states while our comidade land is being grabbed by the same ministers. These lands are used for developing mega housing projects while we Goans are sitting on our butts. Seeing that we do not plant our own food the other states use this as leverage to blackmail Goans.

Mike Carvalho said...

Dear Menino de Valpoi , who on earth is your critic with regards to this article, no one with a humble sane mind would even dare to comment otherwise on this article that has moved so many hearts. and what is it with picking up tools to do farming, I love it and let this critic be informed that my wife and I grow our vegetables in our yard, however as Diago says only those who sit on their back side and have no initiative to do any thing better will be critics of good deeds being done. You are right by withholding the negative comment. Your article should be a inspiration to the young youth of Goa.Negative comments will only tarnish the beauty of your message. Keep it up.

Renoir said...

"You sit far away from Goa, with a foreign nationality".......and so forth as this "hacked" comment goes. Well Menino I am personally proud to see someone who is really sitting far away like you, but still having his heart and soul crying to save the mother land which once natured you. In life we all come across arrogant, illiterate people who have no words of appreciation but rather just negative visions and provoking criticism.
I am sure this blog is not to challenge"Dare to" someone, but rather help to inspire and enlighten people.
"Might does'nt make right it only makes history" and this is for the critics who are only fit to dare & challenge someone who is passionate about and cares for his mother land.It doesnt matter where in the world you are sitting, it may be Mt Everest or it may be in the Andes. Its where your heart belongs and definetely your heart belongs to GOA. Cheers Menino.

Mike Carvalho said...

Goa has become almost Karnataka , these politicians have sold goa to these people who live off free in our land and pay us with garbage and human crap all around the streets , the port town in vasco and the whole of marmagoa is infested with the most antisocial elements form ever since the golden gates of goa were open to these people. Migrants have bult slum cities all around on goan land and more over taken up goverment jobs meant for goans in places like MPT , MES and the shipyard etc and now these very same people want to take over our markets. Its important to note how ungrateful these people are.

VINOD said...

Practice what you preach
Dearest Goans in Goa and outside Goa.
after we partitioned our ancestors property i got around 1000 sq mts
i have already grown chillies, brinjals, tomatoes and some other vegetables after some time i will be self reliant.
this is my small success story
let me try not to conquer goa but small success story's like this will definitely bring back my olden Goa to me.

WISH ALL OF YOU THE BEST IN YOUR SUCCESS STORY'S

YOURS FOR THE CAUSE OF GOA
VINOD NAIK

Dalia said...

I for one have not given up my fields and still cultivating. It is a costly affair today with the cost of labour but the fruit of labour is nuch sweeter. Menino is right, even a small corner around our houses can be cultivated that can be so useful. The article has only encouraged our hearts to see the truth. Kudos to you Menino.

ex-DGEMN said...

Como entusiastas da alimentacao racional, aplaudimos este artigo.

Saudações de Lisboa.

http://ex-dgemn.blogspot.com/

NIZ GOENKAR said...

Muito obrigado Senhor. Este artigo também está na Seção portuguesa. http://nizgsports.blogspot.com/2011/02/goans-nos-deixou-nos-fazermos-ego.html
- Menino de Valpoi

dlp said...

Menino, who is this idiot called Goenkar Arab who is challenging you and threatening to come out open if you have guts??? First and foremost, if this ar...hole had any real guts and was a real Niz Goenkar he would have commented openly with his real name and ID. That itslef proves that he is a COWARD. If he has guts, let him respond to me openly. I know these Goenkar Arabs. I meet them everyday on the streets. And I challenge him to respond to me and to all the others who have responded to him. He must have been highly intoxicated when he wrote that comment.

Trevor said...

Beautiful article. Brings tears to my eyes. Goa is so fertile but it's potential is not being realized. Instead we turn our homeland into a concrete city like Mumbai / Delhi. Sir Menino is absolutely right, our young generation in Goa are not encouraged to take on farming. Not everyone can be a doctor or a lawyer. All professions are equally important. Even western rural countries have some kind of agricultural education in their curriculum. Unfortunately here again in Goa, we have an UNeducated Minister in charge of Education. But again it is the people of Goa that put him in this office to fail their children. These poor children end up on a ship for months at a time with no life, and end up committing suicide. We are all guilty in our own destruction. When will our people WAKE UP??

Alfonso de Alburquerque said...

Well said dlp he must be one rat who does not show his identity. Menino we are with you, squash this rogue.

Dalia said...

dlp from Mars is back?

diogofichardo said...

DLP your comments have hit the spot, Guilty are those that sit on their " BUT" and do nothing for themselves, after a few shots of "nouvsagor" they can't see what good others are doing. The "nouvsagor" is funded by the corrupt MLAs they elect to power. Keep the good work up Menino .

dlp said...

@ Alfonso de Albuquerque...

Thanks!!! Let's see if this rat comes out openly from his hiding hole. Either he does not have the guts to do so or he might have consumed Ratol and you know the rest.....

@ Dalia...

Yeah, I am back. On my way back from Mars, I visited Cadbury, Godiva, Galaxy, Hershey's, Hanukkah's, Nestle's, Wonka, Lake Champlain and last Green & Black's. I did not have much time to visit others, so I had to cut my journey short coz I got an urgent call from my wife to return back immediately for secret reasons. Now that I am back in Goa, it all tastes bitter, bitter and bitter after all that sweet taste I tasted on my way back from Mars. Some places on earth, especially our beloved Goa, has become so bitter that I miss the old sweet taste of patouios, sannas, puddes, neureos, kalkals, voddes, dodol, bebinca, etc. etc. I hope the Goenkar Arab will wake up from his Ratol dose and ask me to come back to Goa and teach Goans how to do this. But one thing, I won't respond to this idiot unless he comes up with his real name and ID (in bracket "Goenkar Arab"). Are you awake as yet IDIOT????

Neville said...

@Goenkar arab, you're an as***le, sitting in the ME and challenging us here.You became useless in goa, so you go to ME to work for the arabs.I too grow veggies, rice and mostly am self sufficient. Its a rewarding job, though its not my profession. The latest onion scarcity did not affect us because, we had matured onions in the field. Mr Menino's was a sensible recommendation for us goans. You could be in goa and benefiting from the import of veggies from karnataka, thru commissions, so get lost. Dont try to discourage others from trying & rewarding themselves.

dlp said...

Neville...

In the first place he did not identify himself with his own name and ID, and top of that he calls himself Goenkar Arab. That's a disgrace to us Goans. He must be working in one of these Arabs' farm and teaching them how to grow veggies that he learnt (if at all?) from his Goan elders, thus showing off what he can do, and eating the Arab's crumbs like a dog. I ask him to leave the Gulf and come to Goa on a six months vacation and teach his neighbours who have forgotten about this tradition. Long live Niz Goenkar and Mr. Menino and his family especially on Menino's 24th Wedding Anniversary on Valentine's Day. That is true love. Viva! Let me have one tia Maria!!!

Neville said...

@dlp, understood. I think he had his rear end serviced by the arabs, masters at the game, (remember soddom & gomorrah?) so he is venting his frustrations here.
@ Sir menino, I have a whole lot of respect for you, for your bravery, for the way you motivated us for goan causes. My humble prayer to God is to grant his choicest blessing on you & family.May your star shine bright.

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