Miguel Braganza
On the last Sunday of February, Goa celebrated the revival of rice cultivation with the vibrant Baatachem Fest in Chinchinim. The village has revived paddy cultivation across thirty-two lakh square meters of land that had remained fallow for over three decades. Farmers have been optimistic ever since the Goa College of Agriculture (GCA) was established in 2015, with its students contributing to this transformation. The impact has been far-reaching, surpassing even the earlier large-scale experiment in St. Estevao, which was short-lived. The steady expansion of cultivated land in Chinchinim has inspired other villages, with support from Fr. George Quadros SDB, whose transplanter has played a key role in this agricultural revival.
So, what sets GCA apart? A few key elements make it unique—its Rural Agriculture Work Experience Program (RAWEP) and Experiential Learning (Hands-on Training or HoT), which includes an Earn While You Learn (EWYL) component. This program equips students with skills in costing, pricing, branding, marketing, and profit management. Unlike many colleges that produce conventional employees, GCA promotes an entrepreneurial and risk-taking mindset—critical in agriculture, especially in the face of climate change. The RAWEP program allows students to apply their knowledge in real farm settings, conduct reality checks, and refine their skills with guidance from faculty experts.
The eighth and final semester is dedicated to experiential learning, where students choose specialised skills in an EWYL setup. Despite being a relatively small institution, GCA has assembled a diverse faculty with expertise across disciplines. If my Alma Mater, the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, has produced Dr. Krishna Ella of Bharati Biotech that produced the Covid-19 vaccine in India, GCA principal is a reputed virologist who could inspire some student to do even better. In a short span of six and seven years, Rajan Shelke and Satish Patil have produced graduates who have passed NET in the first attempt and have become their colleagues. The college has also produced entrepreneurs.
The Baatachem Fest had Joyd Simoes who has set up a Service Provider agency for tractors and now diversified into transplanting. His batchmate, Estella Pires, is the Secretary of the Botanical Society of Goa and an expert in organising festivals and exhibitions like the Konkan Fruit Fest besides training youth to climb coconut trees. Liza Pinheiro has been the best start up in 2022 and is going great guns as an entrepreneur and trainer. Elijah de Souza is another successful entrepreneur of many hats.
Those who have answered their Class 12 exams can consider the option of joining GCA.
