Family makes successful shift from sugarcane to veggie cultivation
Nirgosh Gaude
Ponda: Amid uncertainty over the future of sugarcane farming in Goa, a Codli-Dharbandora-based family has turned adversity into opportunity by shifting to large-scale vegetable cultivation, bringing the second-largest area under cabbage cultivation in the taluka.
The Virdikar family, led by matriarch Reshma Virdikar and her three sons –Shailesh, Shrikar and Sarvesh – has embraced commercial farming and has since seen a four-fold increase in income.
According to the Dharbandora zonal agriculture office, the Virdikars are also undertaking large-scale cultivation of okra (bhindi), chillies and watermelon.
Of their 40,000 sqm of land, 16,000 sqm were brought under vegetable farming in January, with plans to extend cultivation to the entire area.
Officials estimate that with the current crop cycle, the family could earn around Rs 20 lakh this season, benefitting from assured pricing and market support from the Goa Horticulture Department.
The family’s journey began with mining, which was their primary livelihood. After the closure of mining operations, they turned to sugarcane farming, converting barren land into fields. However, the government’s shutdown of the state-run sugar factory left them in limbo.
Despite receiving five years of compensation, they struggled to sustain sugarcane cultivation and eventually decided to shift to vegetables.
Before fully committing, Shailesh Virdikar experimented with small-scale okra farming in 2024, gaining confidence to scale up operations. He sought guidance from a farming friend in Nipani, Karnataka, and used social media to learn modern vegetable cultivation techniques.
Explaining the reason for venturing into cabbage cultivation, Shailesh said that there are a few farmers who are into this, which makes it profitable due to demand.
“Also, compared to chillies and okra cultivation, growing cabbage requires less work and labour force. Besides, cabbage is also less susceptible to fungus,” he said.
He noted that vegetable farming offers faster returns – within three to four months – compared to sugarcane, which yields just one crop annually. Additionally, government schemes providing assured prices and procurement facilities through the Horticulture Department, for instance Rs 20/kg for cabbage, which is fixed for at least six months, have made vegetable farming a viable alternative.
Despite working as mechanics in a mining firm, Shailesh and his brother Shrikar manage the farm, ensuring daily monitoring and care of crops. Their mother and the youngest brother also actively participate, while seven to eight local women are employed for weeding and labour-intensive tasks.
The Dharbandora zonal agriculture office has supported the family with drip irrigation system, a new well, a water pump, mulching facilities and subsidies for hybrid vegetable cultivation under the National Horticulture Mission.
Dharbandora Assistant Agriculture Officer Krishnanath Gawas said that the closure of mining activities has led to rapid agricultural growth in the taluka, with many farmers shifting to large-scale hybrid vegetable cultivation.
“Despite having fewer farmers, Dharbandora is now the second-largest supplier of horticultural produce in Goa. With government support and the Swayampurna Goa initiative, farmers here are setting an example for the rest of the state,” he said.
