Arpita Srivastava
Mapusa
In a pioneering initiative, a Carona- Aldona resident has become the first farmer in Bardez taluka to take up orchid plantation. By raising around 5,000 saplings in a polyhouse at his farm, Merwyn Fernandes is showing the way to others.
Fernandes has dedicated his initiative to the memory of his late wife, who, he said, was fond of orchids.
A retired senior bank manager, Fernandes has marked a new chapter in his village by taking up the project, which is special particularly because of the emotional inspiration behind it. “My wife was very fond of orchids. She passed away two years ago. Whenever she travelled to Bangkok, Darjeeling, Sri Lanka, Nepal and other places, she brought orchids. We had decided to take up the cultivation. Now finally I’m doing it and I have dedicated it to her,” said Fernandes.
Elaborating on the project, Fernandes said the initiative was started by him under the National Horticulture Mission Scheme by sourcing the 5,000 saplings from a Pune-based nursery. He said the saplings are being raised in a polyhouse set up in Carona on an area of 500 sqm.
“I have procured the saplings from nursery in Pune who have a laboratory where orchids are grown through tissue culture. We have 5,000 saplings, which will be grown here in polyhouses at farms. We are using coconut husks so that moisture is maintained. Besides, we have sprinklers and a fogger machine, which will create mist to keep the temperature cooler during heat,” said Fernandes.
He is presently cultivating Dendrobium orchids, including 3,500 saplings of Sonia Red variety and 1,500 saplings of Shivani White. Fernandes said these varieties are relatively easier to grow and require less care compared to the other varieties.
Apart from growing orchids, Fernandes also practises integrated farming at his farm, which includes poultry, goat rearing, beekeeping, fish farming as well as mango, coconut and banana plantations.
Fernandes said that marketing challenges he encountered when he undertook vegetable farming led him to look out for other options. He said he chose cultivation of orchids also because of the high demand and better returns, expecting to recover his money within the next three years.
Assistant agricultural officer of Zonal Agriculture Office (ZAO) Bardez, Rahul Joundale said the agriculture department and the Zonal Agriculture Office under zonal agriculture officer Uma Joshi has been working toward motivating farmers to undertake cultivation of cash crops, as they give high returns.
“We have provided assistance in obtaining subsidy for polyhouses, which is 100% on the standard cost,” said Joundale.
