Staff Reporter

Margao

Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar on Monday felicitated Fr. George Quadros, fondly called as the ‘Paddy Man of Goa’, for his yeoman services to revive agriculture in fallow land by introducing latest technology in the sector.

Speaking at a function organised by Chinchinim Farmers Club, Shirodkar said, “I met Fr. Quadros a few months back. The vision he has shown is exemplary. We see the results.”

The water resources department was formed to promote agriculture. However, over the last two decades the scope of the department changed. But now we are going back to provide water for farmlands, he said.

Paying glowing encomiums on the ‘Paddy Man of Goa’ , the minister said that Fr. Quadros has a vision and that is why he has formed teams of youngsters to carry on the work in future.

Shirodkar said that he will seek assistance of Fr. Quadros to revive the fallow farmlands in Shiroda constituency.

He said that Chinchinim has the potential to become the granary of Salcete’, urging the village’s farmers to continue with their efforts to take the farming to higher level.

The minister assured the Chinchinim farmers of the government support, promising to visit the village again in June during the time of cropping.

Shirodkar also felicitated president of Chinchinim Farmers Club Agnelo Furtado.

Speaking on the occasion, Fr. Quadros recalled that when he met Shirodkar he asked him about requirements.

‘All I asked was water. Within 20 days water was supplied and a second crop was possible. What would have remained a fallow farmland was cropped. The crop is being harvested today,” he said.

Fr. Quadros praised Shirodkar for providing water for irrigation, saying that the minister should be called as the ‘water man of Goa’.

Hoping that the initiative will spread across Goa, the ‘Paddy Man of Goa’ said that Chinchinim has shown the way in reviving the farming.