Flower Farmers Seek Heritage Tag for Mardol Jasmine Cultivation

Ponda: In a bid to protect and preserve the traditional jasmine flower (Jayo) cultivation of the Mardol area, the Fulkar Samaj has demanded a heritage tag for the Mardol ‘jayo’ and sought their farms to be marked as protected cultural heritage. The demand was raised recently during a meeting between the Goa State Biodiversity Board and members of the samaj, who have upheld a century-old tradition of Jayo cultivation, making it an integral part of their livelihood and Goa’s floral heritage.

The initiative was spearheaded by Fulkar Samaj President Pratap Naik, who had earlier written to the board seeking heritage status for the cultivation. “The Mardol Zayo is renowned across Goa for its exceptional fragrance and is highly sought after,” said a member of the Fulkar Samaj. “But now we are not just losing a flower, we are losing our identity and livelihood.”

Cultivators at a meeting held at Priol alleged that the real estate lobby poses a threat to their age-old trade. They also said that there have been incidents of arson targeting their farms. In recent years, several suspicious fires—allegedly set by unknown individuals—have damaged large portions of the century-old jasmine plantations. Given these threats, the cultivators have urged that their farmlands be officially designated as a jayo orchard cluster. This, they said, will ensure that neither the farmers nor the landowners can sell these lands, thereby preserving a vital vocation symbolic of Goa’s cultural identity.

The Fulkar Samaj has also demanded that these lands be safeguarded against future sales by including them as a jayo orchard cluster in the regional plan. The heritage tag and protected status would not only preserve the unique floral heritage of Mardol but also provide a sense of security to the farmers who have dedicated their lives to this traditional practice.