MIGUEL BRAGANZA
Plants are the only living organisms that can convert the light energy of the sun into chemical energy that they store as sugars and starch. The closest that humans, the so-called ‘thinking’ species Homo sapiens, have been able to achieve this is by storing solar energy in chemical batteries. Plants, including lower plants like algae and lichens, contain chlorophyll that work this miracle for them without generating e-waste or chemical pollution. Plants are eco-friendly, both ecologically and economically. Both these words are rooted in the Greek word oikos or ekos, meaning home. This is the sum total of what my generation has learnt the hard way and some of us are teaching the future generations how to balance the two home truths: ecology and economy.
When we discuss plants, we are specific whether we are talking about true seed or propagules including apomictic seed of citrus or mango, or vegetative seed like suckers of banana, pineapple, setts of sugarcane, bamboo or fodder grass, which are actually stem cuttings. We distinguish between softwood and hardwood cuttings; and between air-layers and ground-layers, which are cuttings that were rooted even while on the plant. Then there are budlings of roses and citrus plants like limes, lemons and oranges made with a single bud as scion material, and grafts made with scion stick containing two or more buds as in mango and cashew.
Similarly, when we speak of GenZ, they are the youth born between 1995 and 2009, aged 18 to 31 years and GenAlpha are those born after 2009, are less than 18 years of age and still in PUC/HSS or in school. These are the focal generations as organisers and learners about economy and ecology.
Fortunately for Goa, the younger generations are catching up with start-ups and small enterprises in agriculture that are economically viable and ecologically good. This needs to be appreciated and vigorously encouraged, both of which are not the forte of those of us who were born or live in Goa. While there is life, there is hope. We have Liza Pinheiro, who was adjudged as ‘Business Diva 2022’ in the start-up category and now Priyanka Vandit Naik, the ‘Business Diva 2026’ in the scaled-up category leading the organisation of fruit and plant exhibitions.
This weekend, Pinheiro and Naik are assisting the Britto’s Old Boys Association, the alumni association of St. Britto High School, Mapusa, to present the ‘Britto Flora 2.0’, with the support of the Directorate of Agriculture, Goa. The Agricos Alumni Association (AAA) that was started by Naik in 2000 and has Pinheiro as its current secretary. It has Estella Pires, Dhanika Dias, Gayatri Gawas, Vijay Belgi, Elijah D’Souza, Ryan Mascarenhas and others playing an active role.
The president of the AAA is Shweta Gaonkar, who remains unparalleled as the only ‘Lady Rendeira’ who has revolutionised toddy tapping, besides promoting agro eco tourism. The AAA members are role models for their juniors. The president of Britto’s OBA, Rohan Nazareth, and a computer professional, is now an entrepreneur in integrated coconut farming and processing. Come and meet all these youngsters at the St. Britto High School playground in Mapusa, this weekend.
