Mangaluru: Francis Saldanha cultivates paddy right in heart of the city


Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 12: It is hard to witness agricultural activities in cities. Till some time back, Kadri Kambala was being organized in the city. At that time, there used to be a field rich with green paddy plants. Now there is no field in Kadri. In most vacant spaces, multi-storied buildings have taken over the space of fields.

However, surprisingly, a patch of land used as a field in Chilimbi here has been used to grow paddy every year. This field belongs to Francis Saldanha, who grows paddy during the monsoon months in his 1.25 acres land. After the paddy crop is harvested, he grows vegetables.

Francis reveals that this field has been existing since the times of his father and in the past the family used to grow three crops every year. The family used to raise paddy crop twice and then black gram. "Because of Land Reforms Act, our land went to others. This is the only field we have now. The drains have been damaged and they are filthy too. As water availability is less, we grow paddy and then vegetables," Francis says.

Francis has been a farmer for the last 35 years. He confesses that farming is not profitable but undertaking cultivation regularly keeps the field clean. Otherwise the weeds and other plants grow and then people will start throwing garbage. He says even though farming is not profitable, it is not la loss making proposition either. He notes that they also have some coconut trees and somehow the activity is going on.

In the past the family used to raise a pair of buffaloes but now it is not cost effective. He brings a tiller, ploughs the field twice and directly sows the seeds. Normally he sows the seeds in June second week and reaps the harvest in November. He admits that getting workers is difficult and he gets people belonging to other neighbouring districts to work in the field as the locals are not interested to do the agricultural work.

 

 

 

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Ajit kumar, Bondel

    Sun, Jun 13 2021

    Nice to see paddy field in mangalore city. I want to come and see this with my family. Exact location can u write. Agriculture is the noble profession. Er. Ajit kumar yadav KIOCL, LTD. Panambur.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nirmal, Mangalore

    Sat, Jun 12 2021

    Congratulations Francis...hats off to you for continuing your traditional profession. I am sure you will get crores if you sell land but you opted to continue your traditional occupation.. money may come but you can’t buy the land again if you sell it..and I am sure the farming will keep you healthy and we are immensely benefitted by you keeping the heart of mangalore green..the much needed oxygen and you may indirectly help many birds and other creatures..keep it up

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Sat, Jun 12 2021

    Cynthia may be having buisness interest in Damarskatte and a farm house in Kirem. Let her prosper she desrves ✌🙏

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alphonso D'souza, Mumbai

    Sat, Jun 12 2021

    Dear Francis, you made me extremely nostalgic. Last 45 years - when we used to come to Mangalore by flight, we always travelled hoke from the coastal road. Then we made it a practice to drive through the karavali highway to see those beautiful paddy fields, coconut trees, and those loves Cranes(birds) in the fields .. giving extreme pleasure and satisfaction to our tired minds and bodies. In the last 15 years, this has disappeared .. we only see the concrete jungle. Please continue to do your traditional paddy work; at least we can show our kids a sample of South Kanara (Karavali) of the past. We will miss our old Karavali for ever; development has taken over the nature and in the years to come we will pay dearly. There will be hardly any birds left; water streams dried. A human column in concrete buildings will be left to be seen. We salute you, we wish you all the best; preserve your land as a mark of respect to our ancestors.

    DisAgree Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • Robin, Byndoor

    Sat, Jun 12 2021

    Ayyo... That sitting type of Tiller is most dangerous.... Let it not harm him.. Prayers...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Sat, Jun 12 2021

    ಕಶ್ಠ ಬೈದ್ ಬೆಂದಿನ ಸುಖನ್ ಅನುಬವ್ಸಿನಾಗ ತಿಕ್ಕುನ ಸಂತೋಷ ರಿಯಲ್ ಎಸ್ಟೇಟ್ದ ಕಾಸದ ಸುಖಕ್ಕ್.ಇಜ್ಜಿ. (the satisfaction of work done in da agriculture fields & it's yields consumed comforts at home is not available, getting in da real estate's shortcut earned commissions money. jai francis saldanha

    DisAgree [2] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Sat, Jun 12 2021

    Pumpwell & Padil are situated in the close proximity to the City and due to expansion of the smart city thefew remaining fields will be utilized for new projects and important pubic health services and government utility services and more n more Malls and apartments.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ajay Rebello, Kallianpur

    Sat, Jun 12 2021

    With current erratic weather farming is higher risky even for generational farmers who prefer making plots and selling.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Nallasopara

    Sat, Jun 12 2021

    Some people should also try Pumpwell & Padil ...

    DisAgree [15] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anand R, Mangalore

    Sat, Jun 12 2021

    That Saldaanha is accountable .. and have some brain

    DisAgree [12] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • SJM, Mangalore

    Sat, Jun 12 2021

    No way. They will get in 1$ in Rs 15/- why should they go for all these....

    DisAgree [3] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • Cynthia, Dkatte

    Sat, Jun 12 2021

    God bless this gentleman with long life and good health. Really feel proud for retaining fields and working in it. Last year also daiji published article about him. Thanks Daijiworld

    DisAgree [5] Agree [65] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Nallasopara

    Sat, Jun 12 2021

    Cynthia, Dkatte - Have you given up Khirem ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prakash D' Cunha, Bajpe/Ashoknagar/Abudhabi

    Sat, Jun 12 2021

    Hats off Francis. I am very happy to see you in the agricultural field. It reminds me my childhood days. When i was young i used to work in the field that is called Kumeri in Bajpe, in that field we were growing vegetable's, paddy & so on during rainy season. May God Bless you.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [49] Reply Report Abuse


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