5 Star hotels start buying local vegetables
ARVIND TENGSE, MADGAO | 07 May 2013 17:10 IST
Five star hotels have started buying locally grown vegetables and this has been made possible through the farmers’ clubs being formed in different villages of Goa.
Alila de Goa is the first five star hotel to purchase locally grown vegetables from Nuvem-Sal Krishi Saunstha.
This was pointed out today at a function to launch a website of Goan Farmers’ Federation – www.farmersfederationgoa.com.
The site, sponsored by NABARD, was launched at the hands of Law Commissioner Adv Narendra Savoikar.
This was also followed by a symposium on farmers' and hoteliers' marketing.
“We would prefer locally grown vegetables and herbals”, said Bhoumik, chef of Club Mahindra.
S D Kulkarni, general manager of NABARD in Goa, said the efforts made to unite the farmers of neighbouring villages to sell their produce to the star hotels have started bearing fruits.
He also said agriculture is the father of all the industries and it needs to be developed for a healthy growth of tourism industry in Goa.
Kulkarni also said the website would be a crucial linkage between the hoteliers and the farmers to sell and buy the vegetables and herbal products.
He in fact appealed to the hoteliers invited at the function to become members of the group in order to take ahead the trade among local farmers and the hotel industry.
Supporting the viewpoint, Adv Savoikar appealed to the villagers to revive the tradition of teaching the children techniques of agriculture and build their career in it.
He said Chorao farmers have set an example of e-marketing of Goan agriculture produce.
South Goa ZP president Nelly Rodrigues said all the ZPs and panchayats should come together to fight for their rights.
