Goa Sudharop Farm Project

In June 2020, Goa Sudharop in partnership with Mrs. Zita D'Mello, launched the "Goa Sudharop Farm Project" to allow under-privileged Goan women earn an income by growing fruit & vegetables on her land in South Goa. This project is one of many initiatives Goa Sudharop has launched since its inception 20 years ago which include various projects, programmes, and events to help Goa and Goans.

Due to the current pandemic situation, the resulting loss of jobs and the need for locally sourced food, this project attempts to allow under-privileged Goan women to grow organic food/produce in an eco-friendly manner and earn an income as Goa tries to restore its neglected agricultural sector and meet its current need. The women were selected through the village panchayat out of a list of 100+.

The farm project was initially launched in Orlim with Mrs. Zita D'Mello on 1,000 square meters and 5 women growing vegetables. With the success of the project, Mrs. Zita D'Mello has now offered another 1,000 square meters to accommodate the increasing demand of women who are interested and in need of work. The land is offered free of cost to be cultivated by the women.

An additional plot of land in Carmona offered by Mrs. Braganza is also being cultivated. Four women in the paddy fields and three in a vegetable field are cultivating the land with Mrs. Braganza who is also actively working with them in the fields.

Goa Sudharop has provided the seeds, eco-friendly and organic based fertilizers, tools, other expenses, etc. In addition, a lunch meal (Goan pez - rice meal) is provided to the women while they work. The produce generated so far has already been sold by the women at local bazaars and they keep the proceeds.

In summary:

1. A person(s) allows their previously unused land to be used free of cost. This kind soul retains all legal title to the land.

2. Goa Sudharop supplies the cost of cultivation (seeds, eco-friendly and organic based fertilizers, tools, meals, other expenses, etc.).

3. The women who cultivate the land, sell the produce locally and keep the proceeds.

A win-win-win for everyone involved.

Due to so many people unemployed under the current pandemic and the need for locally sourced food, it is expected this Goa-based project will grow in the future. To use the available land well, Goa Sudharop has engaged the help of an expert from the Agricultural Department who will later train women in hydroponics cultivation which will be adapted to Goa, see general information on Hydroponics at https://www.freshwatersystems.com/blogs/blog/what-are-hydroponic-systems

Thank you to all the volunteers, donors, supporters of this project.

Goa Sudharop