Daijiworld Media Network- Mapusa

Mapusa, Sep 9: Symbiosis is a term usually reserved for the animal world, but across the Goa-Maharashtra border, a unique human-animal relationship has blossomed for generations. The Dhangars, a semi-nomadic community of goat herders from Malegaon, Maharashtra, migrate every monsoon to Pernem in North Goa, seeking refuge for their herds from the sticky ‘chikan mati’ soil back home.

The black clay of Malegaon, once soaked, remains wet and sticky for months, often causing hoof rot in goats. To protect their animals, the herders journey several miles into Pernem, where rocky terrain provides safer ground.

Here, the arrangement turns mutually beneficial. Farmers in Pernem open their fields and lands to the Dhangars, providing temporary shelters. In return, goat droppings enrich the soil, serving as natural manure, especially useful for coconut cultivation.

“This practice has been going on for decades. Farmers here provide space free of cost because the manure is valuable for their crops,” said a local resident of Torsem.

Currently, Pernem hosts three herds from Malegaon in Torsem, two in Paliem, and two in Parcem. The largest herd counts over 500 goats. The herders arrive in May with families, setting up makeshift huts for themselves and raised wooden-floor shelters for their animals. They remain till after Diwali, when the rains subside and fodder becomes available again in Malegaon.

Ganesh Varak, a goat herder in Torsem, explained the seasonal challenge. “In Malegaon, the black soil stays sticky for months. It harms our goats’ feet. So, we move here where the rocky land keeps them safe,” he said.

The community also practices compartmentalisation of herd shelters. “There is a separate space for sick goats to prevent infections from spreading,” explained Savitri Varak, another herder.

The Dhangars’ migration is not just a tale of pastoral survival but also a quiet story of coexistence between two farming communities across state borders — a seasonal pact written in soil, sweat, and tradition.