Sampada transforms family’s farming into thriving nursery

Panaji: At this time most of the Goan families are leaving their traditional farming; in this situation one family in Palyem, Pernem, has proved that agriculture can be an affluent profession. It is the story of Sampada Tari, the woman who transformed her family’s small farming business into a flourishing floriculture nursery with the help of her two educated sons, Salil and Sanish.

Earlier, Sampada used to sell chilly saplings, coconuts, and medicinal plants. Later, her association with the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) brought changes in her life. Through this venture, she started selling marigold saplings. Gradually she expanded her business. She moved a step further and started growing flowers in her small land.

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Currently, several varieties of plants, including flowers, ornamental plants, spices, and fruit-bearing trees, have been cultivated in her nursery. She sourced saplings from nearby cities like Pune, Kolhapur, and so on. Besides this, she also grafts and germinates plants at home. Her nursery has got a lot of name and fame, enticing customers from across Goa.

Sampada’s sons are helping their mother; they believe in balancing tradition with modern knowledge. “For my sons, the plants are like their children,” says Sampada with pride. She further added that many Goan families are discouraging their children’s involvement in agriculture. But she is adamant that by dint of hard work she would be an inspiration for young people to adopt agriculture because it is packed with potential.

She has left no stone unturned in spreading green space along with boosting environmental awareness among the people of the region.