Khazan system

The Khazan is a traditional farming system of Goa, India. It comprises mainly rice-fish fields established on reclaimed coastal wetlands, salt marshes and mangrove forests. It involves construction of levees and sluice gates to prevent sea water from entering the fields.^[1]

The Bandora (Bandiwade) copper-plate inscription of Anirjita-varman (likely a Konkan Maurya king), dated to 5th-6th century on palaeographical grounds, refers to the khazan system as khajjana. It records the grant of tax-exempt land in Dwadasa-desha (modern Bardez), including one hala (a unit) of khajjana land. The recipient of the grant was expected to convert this wetland into a cultivated field by constructing a bund to prevent the salty sea water from entering the land.^[2]

Historically, an association of villagers (gaunkaris) maintained the local khazan fields and its associated levees. This system continued under the Portuguese rule, with communidades maintaining the khazan system through an association of farmers (bhous or bhaus).^[3]

References

1. Sangeeta M. Sonak 2013, p. 33.
2. N. Shyam Bhat & Nagendra Rao 2013, p. 254.
3. Sangeeta M. Sonak 2013, p. 67.

Bibliography

• Sangeeta M. Sonak (2013). Khazan Ecosystems of Goa: Building on Indigenous Solutions to Cope with Global Environmental Change. Springer. ISBN 9789400772021.
• N. Shyam Bhat; Nagendra Rao (2013). "History of Goa with Special Reference to its Feudal Features". Indian Historical Review. 40 (2). doi:10.1177/0376983613499680. S2CID 145048379.