Rev. Fr. Dr. Bolmax Pereira leads the youth of St Francis Xavier Church, Chicalim, to join farm workers in their annual activity of farming
Born as Bolmax Fidelis Pereira, in Quepem, he was one amongst 5 siblings. His decision to become a priest was instilled in him by his mother. Fr Bolmax joined the Saligao seminary from standard 8 in 1989 and then went on to complete his HSSCE from St Xavier’s Higher Secondary School, Mapusa. He has graduated in BSc in Botany from St Xaviers College, Mapusa, Philosophy and Theology at Rachol Seminary and was ordained Priest in 2004. He also has an MSc in Ecology and Environment from Sikkim-Manipal University, under his belt and finally did his PhD in Botany at Jodhpur National University, Jodhpur, 2017. Currently he is Assistant Professor of Botany at St. Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim and Parish Priest of St Francis Xavier Church, Chicalim.
Fr Bolmax says that he came up with the idea of getting the youth to work in the fields as they are the future of Goa. “Atmanirbhar and the ‘Revival of Agriculture’ are the trending terms today and I needed to connect these two. There couldn’t have been a better idea than ‘Youth (back) in the Fields’.
When he suggested the idea to the people of the village, it was during the ongoing pandemic and the neighbouring Mangor Hill was already declared a containment zone. “So naturally we got a mixed response. Some were active online supporting the cause and some of them dared to defy the COVID scare to ‘dirty’ their hands in ‘amchi mati’. The local owners of the field, along with a few neighbours and the members of the St Francis Xavier Parish Youth of Chicalim came forward to take part in this activity.”
Fr. Bolmax elaborates about the highlights of the day when the farming activity was conducted. “There were regular farmers (the owner’s family) and some first timers (youth). The youth learnt and experienced the actual process and joys of farming whereas the regular farmers who were heading into disappointment and demotivation due to shortage of labour, thanks to mass exit of migrant or guest labour, got the much needed support from these young, emerging farmers. The most striking highlight of this activity was the discovery of ‘child farmer’, Kaden Fernandes who tilled most of the field spread out to 10,000 sq. mts by professionally operating the power tiller. Kaden is just 12 years old, a class seven student in Regina Mundi High School, in the village where most of the kids study. The lad valiantly and expertly tilled the power machine and completed the entire exercise over the 10,000 sq. mts paddy field, solo.” Moreover, this activity publicised over various social media handles, turned out to be a trigger to many other farmers in other villages as well to venture back to the fields.
Fr Bolmax then goes on to speak about the support and encouragement received from the villagers. “The support of the villagers was tremendous, although not all could venture into the fields on that day. Many owners of the fields, which were left fallow for many years, agreed and resolved to revive their fields, if youth are ready to work with them. Eventually the Chicalim Youth Farmers Club came into existence. The parents of the willing youth were kind enough to send their sons and daughters to go out and get working in these agricultural fields. Many villagers appreciated the youth once they got to know about the activity.”
Currently, the Chicalim Youth Framers club has around 30 members. The revival of fallow fields in Chicalim is its primary goal with the secondary goal being, to present agriculture as viable economic industry. It will be mentored by traditional farmers and informed members of civil society in collaboration with St. Francis Xavier Church, Chicalim. Fr Bolmax stresses on the importance of farming, agricultural activities and its future in Goa. “The land is fertile and blessed, so by itself holds a great scope for farming and agricultural activities. The COVID pandemic has taught us to be self sufficient as far as agricultural products is concerned. We have also seen that the young brigade is willing to get back to agriculture, a principle backbone of Goa’s economy once upon a time. This, coupled with Government schemes for an agriculture boost, surely promises a bright future for agricultural activities in our ‘Mannkulem Goem’. Thanks to this activity by Fr. Bolmax, a few educational institutes are on the way to taking the same route. St Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim has acquired a field belonging to Cortalim Church and has resumed farming in collaboration with the ‘Fabrica’ of the Church, whose Parish priests are Fr. Pio Almeida and Fr. Mariano Dias. The students and staff of the college will venture into fields for transplanting paddy on 22nd of July after completing their exams. As an extracurricular activity, it will cultivate a love for agriculture amongst the Science graduates passing out from St Joseph Vaz College, managed by the St Joseph Vaz Educational Society.
Fr. Bolmax concludes with a message to the people and most importantly the youth, with respect to agricultural activities in the State. “Let’s get back to our roots – that’s where our identity and security lies. As our child prodigy, Kaden said, “Hi amchi mati mhunnche bhangar” (this soil of ours is gold). Let’s extract a lot of gold in our fields and backyards. Our youth will get academically sound and agriculturally skilled – you need not leave the state for greener pastures anymore, as the pasture is here. People stop disregarding or degrading the dignity of the farmers. It is they (We) who produce to feed your stomachs.
“Xetkamtea tum mahan! Zoddun ghe tuzo man” (Farmers you are great. Earn your respect), signs off Fr Bolmax with a hope that more youngsters will take up to farming in the wake of the coronoavirus pandemic; with many other occupations being locked-down.
