Team Goemkarponn
Canacona: Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar donned his farming hat on Sunday, quite literally stepping into the muddy fields to sow paddy seedlings in a symbolic yet practical move aimed at reviving paddy cultivation in fallow farmlands across the taluka.
Leading by example, Tawadkar—joined by his wife and Poinguinim Sarpanch Savita Tawadkar—took part in the transplantation of paddy seedlings in a field in Cotigao, already prepared using a power tiller. The Speaker was also seen operating the tiller himself, loosening and leveling the land before sowing began.
The effort was a community-driven one. Alongside the couple were Deputy Directors of Agriculture Shivram Naik Gaonkar and Nagesh Komarpant, village women including Shristhal Sarpanch Sejal Gaonkar, and several women panch members from Poinguinim, Shristhal, and Khotigao. Students from Balram Residential High School, Amone, also joined the initiative, completing what is typically a three-day exercise within a single morning.
Speaking to the media, Tawadkar said the initiative was not just about planting rice—it was a public appeal. “If we continue to work from our comfort zones, people may not respond to our appeals. But we, as leaders—and particularly officers in the agriculture department—need to descend into the paddy fields and lead by example,” he said.
Tawadkar expressed concern that currently less than 40% of Canacona’s cultivable land is being used for either Rabi or Kharif crops, with over 60% lying fallow. “Mechanization has made farming easier, and our Agriculture Department is fully equipped to support farmers. But we must motivate erstwhile farmers to return to the fields,” he added.
Highlighting his personal commitment, Tawadkar revealed that he is cultivating a portion of his own farmland at Cotivan using Joida, a local paddy variety known for its aromatic quality and resemblance to basmati rice. “The crop is intended for personal consumption and will be completely organic—no chemical fertilizers, only cow dung as manure,” he said.
Echoing the Speaker’s sentiments, Poinguinim Sarpanch Savita Tawadkar emphasized that support is readily available. “If people or farmers approach us with their difficulties, the MLA is ready to help in every possible way—including community farming initiatives. The Agriculture Department is also willing to assist. It’s just a matter of taking that first step,” she said.
Shristhal Sarpanch Sejal Gaonkar also lent her voice to the appeal, calling for collective action and greater community participation to bring Canacona’s fields back to life.
With visible political will and grassroots participation, Sunday’s event marked a small but significant step toward reversing agricultural decline in the region.
