By Joao Sousa M | NT NETWORK

PANAJI: Cultivation of chillies and lady’s finger on hilly areas in Quepem will receive a shot in the arm as the pilot project for their commercial cultivation will begin in the ensuing rabi season.

The water for the cultivation will be supplied from the ‘jalkunds’ that are being built there. A ‘jalkund’ is a low-cost rainwater harvesting structure which is developed on hilltops for accumulating flowing water. Farmers can vary its capacity depending upon his requirement for the crop. The water can also be stored for use in various farm activities including the livestock and fish production during post-rainy season.

In Goa, on an average ‘jalkunds’ are made by digging a pit two metres deep with width of 4 metres by two metres and 1.5 mts feeder channel. It is then covered with a plastic lining of 250 GSM supported by angle iron poles which are supplied by the department, informed senior agricultural officer, Mr Shariff Furtado who was closely associated with the ‘jalkund’ project in Quepem. Mr Furtado informed that the state government provides financial subsidy to construct ‘jalkunds.’

A study carried out by ‘The Navhind Times’ has revealed that though the scheme was implemented in the state a couple of years back, ‘jalkunds’ are gaining popularity and the agriculture department is now exploring the possibilities of their large-scale use for agricultural activities on hill-slopes in Quepem, Ponda, Canacona, Sanguem and other parts of the state.

Though the Quepem zonal agriculture department had short-listed cultivation of seven types of vegetables, as part of the pilot project it is looking to bring an additional three hectares of land under cultivation during the ensuing rabi season with two hectors for chilli cultivation and one for lady’s finger.

The zonal agricultural officer at Quepem, Mr Shriram Gaonkar informed that earlier the farmers used to grow chillies and lady’s finger on hill slopes on a small scale as watering was a difficult proposition due to the difficult terrain. He added that though the seedlings will be germinated shortly the crop won’t need much watering until November-December due to the moisture in the soil. However, the chillies and lady’s finger saplings will need to be watered when they are about to bear fruits. Mr Gaonkar informed that chillies and lady’s finger can fetch a good price and the department has made arrangements to buy the produce from the farmers through the horticulture department.

Mr Gaonkar informed that though water can be stored in the ‘jalkunds’ for a long time, the farmer has to prevent water from direct exposure to sunlight to prevent evaporation. Each ‘jalkund’ with a storage capacity of 12,000 litres of water can irrigate around 200 to 300 square metres of land, he added.

Mr Furtado informed that there are 14 ‘jalkunds’ in Mangad, seven in Malkarnem, five in Caurem and one at Cazur in Quepem taluka. Mr Dilip Pawaskar who is promoting the ‘jalkunds’ in Malkarnem and Caurem said that ‘jalkunds’ have tremendous potential for raising commercial crop during non-monsoon months and is gaining popularity among
the farmers.