The Department of Botany, Carmel College of Arts, Science and Commerce for Women, Nuvem – Goa, organized an enlightening guest lecture on the topic “Organic Farming: Preserving Traditional Knowledge” on 8th August 2025 at 12.30 pm. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from all undergraduate students of the Botany department. On this occasion, the department also marked the inauguration of its student club, “Carmel Greens,” with the motto “Nurture Nature, Live Better”, aimed at promoting environmental awareness and sustainable living among students.
The speaker, Dr. Dhillan Velip, Assistant Professor of Botany at Goa University and recipient of the Adivasi Pradnyawant Puraskar (2021), is actively involved in sustainable agriculture initiatives. He currently serves as a Farmers’ Representative for an ICAR-CCARI project in Canacona Taluka and is a Consultant for Goa Shipyard Ltd., supporting local farmer cooperatives.
Dr. Velip delivered an insightful lecture emphasizing the value of organic farming and the urgent need to preserve traditional agricultural knowledge for future generations. He elaborated on several aspects of traditional agricultural practices such as the use of natural soil manure, traditional irrigation methods, and the cultivation of indigenous crops like Kokum, Mango, Jackfruit, Banana, Coconut, Arecanut, Sugarcane, and Pepper. He also spoke extensively about the seasonal vegetables grown in Goa and emphasized the potential of value-added farm products to improve their saleability and availability during off-season as well as additional income for farmers. In addition, Dr. Velip discussed the significance of cultivating ornamental flowers, promoting mushroom farming, and developing agro-ecotourism as sustainable livelihood options. He also stressed the importance of preserving genetic resources and shared valuable information about various government schemes that support value-addition and traditional farming practices.
The session concluded with a dynamic Q&A, encouraging students to explore the integration of traditional practices with modern sustainable approaches. The lecture was informative and inspired a deeper appreciation for eco-friendly farming rooted in Goan tradition.