‘Embankments maintain right water levels in fields’
Shoma Patnaik
Panaji : With 60 per cent of khazan lands of the state in an uncultivable condition, a report prepared by the environment department has emphasised on the restoration of bunds for the revival of traditional khazan parcels.
The report has said that bunds (embankments) act as barriers that protect khazan lands from tidal and saline water intrusion during high tide or storms. They help maintain the right water levels in the fields supported by sluice gates so as to allow controlled water entry and exit.
By keeping out saltwater, bunds help preserve the fertility of the soil, making it suitable for rice farming and vegetable cultivation, the report has said.
The document has said that bunds can be strengthened by planting mangrove species on the waterfront side to protect them from tidal forces and improve their stability.
It has recommended planting of horticulture crops such as cashew, coconut, banana, and guava on bunds, adding that that the bunds need to be regularly inspected for cracks, breaches, or leaks.
With the government planning to carry out farming on khazan land, the report has said khazan lands are suitable for growing salt-tolerant paddy varieties like Korgut, Jyoti and Goa Dhan 1-4. The land is also fit for salt-tolerant fodder such as napier grass, para grass and fodder sorghum.
For those who doubt the usefulness of khazan land for boosting agriculture, the report has said leguminous fodder crops such as cowpea, horse gram, sesbania, must be integrated with paddy cultivation to enhance the nitrogen content of the soil and grow nutritious fodder.
As per a study, Goa has approximately 18,000 to 18,500 hectares of khazan land, of which about 8,000 hectares are under active cultivation, while the rest is intertidal, fallow, or marshy and awaiting restoration.
The government plans to set up a khazan board to revive the land and make it contribute to increasing agriculture production.
