Panaji: While kokum has been growing naturally across Goa for generations, it has rarely been cultivated as a dedicated commercial plantation. Instead, the trees are commonly found scattered on individual farms, making the crop largely neglected despite its economic potential.To promote commercial cultivation of indigenous crops, the Bicholim Progressive Farmers group has adopted the initiative to plant 10,000 kokum saplings across the taluka, covering an estimated 10 hectares of farmland, with the help of the directorate of agriculture. The department aims to take kokum from being a neglected crop to a commercially viable horticultural produce with assured market linkages.The project, led by the chairman of the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO), Vishwambhar Gawas comprises around 550 member farmers with each participating farmer contributing to plantation activities on their respective holdings.“This is a long-term investment crop. The full yield will come only after about five years,” the FPO chairman said.The plantation drive will involve farmers from Bicholim, Mayem and Sanquelim with each participating farmer expected to plant around 25 to 30 saplings.“Kokum can be cultivated on a wide variety of land types as long as the soil is not waterlogged. With a recommended spacing of approximately 5X5metres, around 400 plants can be accommodated per hectare. The proposed plantation of 10,000 saplings is therefore expected to cover roughly 10 hectares,” said zonal agriculture officer (ZAO), Bicholim, Yeshwant Gawas.“Kokum is an integral part of Goan cuisine and culture. Every Goan kitchen uses kokum, particularly for preparing the traditional sol kadhi. Today, there is increasing demand for value-added products such as kokum syrup, dried kokum rind and other processed products. If the crop is cultivated systematically and processed professionally, it has a strong market potential,” he said.The farmers’ organisation has already established marketing channels for its produce. It operates its own outlet in Bicholim and is understood to have tie-ups with private supermarkets, ensuring that farmers will have ready buyers once commercial production begins. Once kokum production begins, the FPO also intends to undertake processing and establish a buyback system to ensure assured market linkage for farmers.The plantation is expected to take around five years before reaching full commercial bearing.“Since kokum is native to Goa and has adapted naturally to the region’s climatic conditions over centuries, the crop is expected to perform well under local conditions without requiring changes in cultivation practices,” Gawas said.
