SOILS AND AGRICULTURE IN GOA
SOILS OF GOA
The soil in Goa is categorized into three broad types:1) Lateritic 2) Alluvial and 3) Sandy.The major soil type is lateritic (81%). This soil is rich in iron and aluminium oxides and is reddish in colour. It has sandy loamy to silt- loam texture, well drained and highly acidic (5.5 to 6.5 pH). This soil has moderate organie carbon and is poor in potash
About 11% of the soils located along the seacoast and estuaries is sandy-to-sandy loam This includes the Ker lands and beach fronts.The remaining 8% of the soil is alluvial and loamy in nature. nature.It is found inland along the river banks. These soils are rich in humus and conducive for plantation.
The Khazans and adjoining areas have alluvial soil with high water tables and are subject to inundation by saline water.
Land Types
1) Khazan Land
These are the low laying areas along the estuaries. These lands are commonly used to cultivate Rabi vegetables and practice pisciculture by using estuarine waters.
2)Ker Land
This is a flat land at low elevation above sea level and has high water table. This land is arable, having sandy to sandy-loamy soil ideal for multiple cropping through irrigation Rabi paddy, vegetables, pulses,
nitrogen fixing crops / leguminous etc. are grown in these areas
3)Morod Land
It refers to upland or terraced fields suitable for Horticultural/ Plantation crops or single rainfed crop of rice
Problem of Soil Erosion in Goa
Goa is a small state having an area of 3702 sq kms. It faces a major problem of soil erosion.The cause of soil erosion is attributed mainly to mining which is spread over 700 sq kms.Mining which was the back bone of Goa's economy has caused severe damage in terms of deforestation, top soil dumps, mining wastes, de-watering of mines etc
Environmental problems caused due to mining:
- Deforestation
- Land degradation
- Renders agricultural land useless
- Groundwater pollution
- Surface water pollution
- Depletion of watertable
- Dust pollution
- Damage to beaches
Coastal Erosion
The prime reason being increased human interference along the coast in terms of reclamation, and haphazard construction of houses, hotels, and resorts, shacks without following any rules of CRZ (Coastal regulatory Zone) and Coastal Management Zone Authority
This increasing interference has resulted in, rapid erosion of coasts and beaches Coastal erosion in turn has adversely affected beaches, dunes, mangroves, water bodies, resulting in loss of biodiversity of khazan lands and overexploitation of groundwater.
The sand exploited along the coastal areas is used for construction and as industrial raw material.This exploitation has transformed the Khazan lands, marshes and mangrove areas leading to further erosion along the coast.
Soil Conservation
The Government of Goa has undertaken steps to fight the problem of soil erosion and degradation of soils in the state. It has used the schemes initiated by the central and state governments. To begin with the state forest department aims to conserve soil by reforestation programme in all the five wildlife sanctuaries of Goa. Other than this to protect the coastal erosion gabions and other protective structures are being placed in areas where coastal erosion is prominent.
AGRICULTURE IN GOA
Cropping Patterns
Crops are grown in the Kharif and Rabi season. The crops grown in the Kharif season consist of paddy, ragı (locally called nachani) and some pulses. Crops grown in the rabi season are comprised of paddy, pulses like horse-gram (kulith), black gram (udid), a variety of beans and some vegetables In the month of April & May some leguminous crops like Urad, Alsande (Goan cow pea). Moong, etc. are grown) Cucumber, watermelons are grown in areas of Agacaim, Ponda, Mapusa etc)
Major Crops
Paddy, Ragi and pulses (indigeneous rice varieties) form the major crops of Goa. Other crops which are grown in abundance are Cash crops like coconut, cashewnut, arecanut, mango, jackfruit, banana and pineapples. Cashew is an important crop in Goa.
A variety of mangoes are grown in Goa. Some of the famous Mango varieties are Mancurade, Mussarade, Fernandine, Xavier, Afonso and Colaco.
The vegetables that form a part of the agriculture in Goa consists of brinjal, lady's fingers, raddish cucumber, pumpkins, drum-sticks and breadfruit. Sweet potatoes, chillies, onions are also available.
In recent years floriculture is being undertaken on a large scale.
Sugarcane cultivation has been taken up only recently and a sugar factory has also been set up in Goa.
The main sources of irrigation for winter crops are the nullahs, rivers, streams, tanks, wells and canals.
In Goa, shifting cultivation is locally known as 'Kumeri'. Kumeri is largely responsible for producing Goa's output of nachni, other millets and pulses.
Madkai village in Ponda Taluka of North Goa district follow Awadhi, a peculiar feature as far as the agricultural practice is concerned. This system involves removal of mud heaps of soil from the fields. Agricultural inputs like cow dung and dry fish manure when used in bulk create an imbalance in the water-field level. To regain the earlier level, excess soil has to be removed. The flattened tops of Awadhis are utilized to grow vegetables and bananas. However, Awadhis have proved to be uneconomical for farmers as it has consumed a major part of their paddy fields. '
Puran' farming is practice in Sattari i.e. paddy crops grown in the Mhadei river basin by using alluvial silt of river.
Comments
Post a Comment