Khazan Farming System, an engineering marvel in Goa, Explained!

A paper presented at Goa University states that Khazan lands are carefully designed as 'topo-hydro-engineered Garo-aquaculture ecosystems'. The structure of these lands depends on their distance from the nearest watershed and the tidal estuary. According to National Geographic, an 'estuary is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean.' They are also called a bay, or lagoons.

Read more: History of Khazan land management in Goa: ecological, economic and political perspective

Furthermore, the existence of the Khazan lands depends on the control of the balance between the availability and flow of freshwater (rainfall and aquifer) and saline (estuarine) water. 

Read more: Mangroves and Khazan agriculture: Sustaining Goa’s promise for fish, curry and rice

The Process

According to The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), this type of farming is practiced in low-lying areas of Goa. It has always been a defense against excesses such as high tides, storms, or floods. Furthermore, the farming practice has been in use for more than the last 3,500 years. 

Sangeeta Sonak, Executive Director at the Centre for Environment and Natural Resource Management explains in her book called ‘Khazan ecosystems of Goa’ that Khazans are predominantly rice and fish fields.

They are reclaimed wetlands, salt marshes, and mangrove areas where tidal influence is regulated by the construction of embankments (bunds) and sluice gates.

She further explains the Khazan ecosystem is a human-made ecosystem, developed by traditional, primitive, tribal communities of Goa. Additionally, it is a highly structured system of dykes, canals, furrows, and sluice gates from resources that were amply available locally.

Thanks to marine conservation scientist @meenscientist for showing us the Goan khazan system of farming and fishing unique to Goa pre-dating colonisation. Allowing both farming and fishing on low-lying reclaimed saline lands, used for paddy (rice) cultivation, and fishing. pic.twitter.com/CCvRJ3ECMM

— Dr Ruth DeSouza (FACN) (@DeSouzaRN) July 10, 2022

Read more: A Goa village that strives to protect the fast-vanishing 'Khazans' | TERI

Bunds are built to stop saltwater intrusion which destroys the halophilic mangroves. Hence, people constructed openings in bunds equipped with one-way gates to regulate the passage of tidal waters. Fish, crabs, and shrimps would migrate through these canals with the incoming tide. And, when the water level was the same on both sides the gates would automatically close.

Read more: Mangroves & Khazan Agriculture - Agriplus.in

These gates would automatically open outward when the tide receded, enabling the water to drain out. This would percent the water from pouring into the fields which are used to cultivate paddy. They have a low tolerance to salt, preventing the crops from being ruined

Goa’s 2nd biggest Khazan land is totally sub-merge in salty water which spoiled the cultivable agricultural fertile land and govt. authorities are neglecting the issue of decades @goacm @BabuKavlekar @AgriGoI @rupeshgsamant @TimesNow @MirrorNow @PrimeTVGoa @rdxgoa @goanvarta pic.twitter.com/3UeYGLH62Q

— Viresh Borkar (@Viresh_Borkar) May 6, 2020

Loss of Khazan lands

Large portions of these lands are now being utilized for various other purposes. Major reasons are the generations-long lack of awareness and the urge to earn a better living.

The khazans have historically been preserved and utilized by locals but a rising tourism industry has resulted in major areas being sold to developers. Furthermore, the developers will fill up the water tracts and firm up the soil layer to set the groundwork for future building construction. These new buildings will destroy the region's important biodiversity. In addition, put themselves at risk of flooding because there are no natural tide and wave barriers.

Rejuvenation of the Khazan lands

Recently in November 2022, the Governor of Goa launched a research project for the Rejuvenation of the Khazan lands of Goa. The project will be implemented by ICAR-CCARI (Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute). The need for the implementation of the project to convert the Khazan lands of Goa into more productive lands with viable interventions. Additionally, improve the livelihood of the Khazan land farmers.

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