Posted in Events on 28. Apr, 2011
We’re at the Konkan Fruit Festival from April 29th to May 1st (Friday to Sunday) with a wide variety of fruits and fruit products.
Do drop in and visit. Its at the Campal Promenade (opp old GMC bldg), from 9AM to 9PM.
Nine members of the Chorao Farmers Club attended the 3rd Biennial Conference of the Organic Farmers Association of India (OFAI). This conference was held on the farm of Shri Sarvadaman Patel (also the President of OFAI), who has been practicing Biodynamic farming on his 40-acre farm near Anand, in Gujarat.
Sarvadaman-bhai takes visitors around his biodynamic farm
Conference hall created within a bamboo grove
The conference was held over a 3-day period and covered both lectures as well as practical demonstrations that helped farmers exchange ideas and learn new techniques in a hands-on manner. Topics covered included the impact of climate change on agriculture, the role of organic farming in the context of changing climate, pest management, making growth promoters etc.
Interactive session on pest-management
Besides the conference, there was also an exhibition area where farmers had stalls and were able to exchange or sell their products, seeds and demonstrate new techniqies too. Our farmers set up a stall and sold our locally available seeds as well as farm-produce.
Chorao Farmers Club's Stall at the "Pradarshani"
Since we were near Anand, we ensured that we visited the Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL) Factory. Here we saw their museum that documents the growth and history of AMUL. We also saw the plants that make the various Amul products.
Posted in Announcements, Events on 21. Aug, 2010
The Chorao Farmers Club moved into its new office in Chodan village on August 21st, 2010.
We became the first farmers club in Goa to set up our own office, and we will use this facility as a point of interaction with our members, clients, for storage of equipment and produce and for conducting training programs and other events.
Inauguration of Chorao Farmers Club Office
The inauguration was done by Dr. N.P. Singh (Director ICAR), Mr. Satish Tendulkar (Director of Agriculture) and Mr. Arun Shandilya (GM NABARD Goa) all of whom have been instrumental in supporting the Club in various activities.
According to Mr Arun Sandilya, “The Chorao example is a good model for the other farmers clubs in Goa, many of which are either not functioning regularly, or are only recently formed”.
At this event our Club members also outlined their ‘Vision for 2015′ which will serve as a reference for all our initiatives over the next 5 years. Read our Vision 2015.
Currently our office hours are:
Tuesdays – 10 AM to 12 PM and 4PM to 6PM AND Sundays – 10 AM to 12 PM and 4PM to 6PM
Posted in Events on 11. Jul, 2010
The Chorao Farmer’s Club was visited by members of MASIPAG, a team of 6 farmers and researchers who were here on a visit to exchange ideas and information with organic farmers and promoters in India from 03 to 14 July, 2010.
MASIPAG team visits Chorao on a knowledge exchange exercise
The visit, which was organised through Miguel Braganza of OFAI (Orgainc Farmers Association of India) was to provide the opportunity to meet, demonstrate how we work on our fields, exchange native varieties of our paddy seeds and share the challenges and solutions that we are experiencing in agriculture in our respective communities.
NOTE: MASIPAG (Magsasaka At Siyentipiko Para Sa Pag-Unlad Ng Agrikultura), is a farmer-led organisation that works in the area of sustainable agriculture, and is located in the Philippines.
Posted in Events, Government on 17. May, 2010
Our Club organised a half-day workshop where farmers met up with experts from the Government to understand where and how we can use Government schemes, funds, subsidies that are meant to give a boost to agriculture in the state.
Mr. Mahambare, Amancio Fernandes, Orlando Rodrigues, Vishram Gaonkar, Mr. Hoble and Mr. Joshi
An overview of Government Schemes was provided by our Zonal Agricultural Officer, Mr. Hoble. His presentation can be viewed here.
Mr. Vishram Gaonkar from the ICAR, provided insights on growing and caring for mango trees. His presentation provides more details.
Amanciao Fernandes from the Dpt. of Agriculture highlighted the importance of the Jalakunda Scheme and how it could be relevant for farmers with hilly tracts of land.
Orlando Rodrigues from the Horticulture Corporation of Goa outlined schemes from the Corporation that farmers growing vegetables could use.
Posted in Events on 24. Mar, 2010
We visited Bhooshan Nabar’s mango orchard in Vengurla yesterday (22nd March) to understand how mangoes are made ready for the market once harvested. Below are photos from the visit.
Bhooshan Nabar (foreground) and Sajjan with the mango orchard in the background
Nabar prefers to keep the undergrowth in check for fear of fires during the dry months
Alphonso tree laden with fruit
Because the trees have been regularly pruned, they are short and bear fruit so low that you could crouch under the branches and pluck them. Walli takes a moment to capture some photos
Pheromone traps are a simple and effective way to attract and trap insects that may damage the mangoes. Similar pheromone traps are available at the ZAO's office or even at Ela Farm in Old Goa.
Mango trees need looking after. Nabar digs a ring around the base of the tree at a distance of approximately 30 feet from the trunk. This ring is used to fertilise the tree. He uses bonemeal, dolomite (lime with Calcium and Magnesium), cow-dung and rock-phosphate. Keeping the ring mulched helps retain moisture.
Mangoes being harvested
Freshly harvested mangoes
Nabar shows us his new plantation (3 years old). A bore-well and a drip irrigation system ensures that the trees get the water the need. The land is rocky and undulating, much like portions of land on our island of Chorao. No reason why we can't make similar plantations on our lands
(From left to right) Kalangutkar, Santosh, Mahambare, Walli, Sajjan, Nabar, Abreu (back), Arjun, Ramesh (back), Prava
