Goa a tiny and serene hamlet on the western coast of India boasts of a rich legacy pertaining to harvesting of various crops, both seasonal and non-seasonal throughout the year. Nearly one third of the cultivable land is still used to grow crops in various Taluka, Kharif and Rabi crops are taken in monsoon and winter seasons respectively.
Paddy crop is the chief crop in the state which is usually grown at the onset of the monsoon season in June. Along with paddy, coconut is grown through the state. Science vegetables form an integral part of the diet of Goan people today they are grown in large numbers.
Goan youth today have realised the importance of agriculture in a big way after the introduction of the subject at school level curriculum. Providing of vocational training pertaining to horticulture, floriculture have increased employment opportunities for the young generation and there are today a number of income generating programmes in the field.
Creation of environment awareness activities like agro-forestry, agro-horticulture, soil and water conservation sustainable agricultural development watershed management have reached the grass roots in our states linkages have been built between peoples institutions government and non-governmental organizations.
Goa today boasts of agriculture education at school level itself with the national vocational educational qualification framework (NVEQF) levels which come under the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary education at std X and XII through vocational streams in the trades of horticulture and floriculture.
In order to promote vertical mobility for students who have completed the above levels an unique concepts has been launched recently under the Goa University through community college under the Goa university through community college of R.C. Pai Raikar School of Agriculture at Savoiverem in Ponda Taluka.
With an initial educational qualification of 12th Std in any stream (preferable n agriculture related Vocational Trades), a students can get his advanced certificate in one semester, Diploma in two semesters and advance diploma in four semester from Goa University. The courses are hand on courses with 70% like Nursery management, seed propagation vegetation propagation, production techniques of fruits crops, plant nutrition, entomology Plant Pathology to name a few find mention in the exhaustive course curriculum.
The Scheme of community college has been introduced by the UGC (University Grants Commission) under the 12th five year plan. Besides Goa also boasts of a degree course in agriculture of three and half years duration at Don Bosco Agriculture College at sulcorna in Quepem Taluka. For this course students with a XII Std in science faculty are eligible and the course is affiliated to the Goa University. All these courses are designed to meet the States agriculture parameters and challenge leaners to achieve their potential.
Promoting and developing agriculture skills for increasing the agricultural area of operation and thereby increase in the productivity and the quality through progressive farming and to promote self-employment in this sector are the keys in realising a great future for agricultural industry in the state of Goa. Inculcating love for agriculture and to promote use of vacant land for the purpose of Cultivation and increase the yield thereby making this state self “ sufficient in fruits, flowers and vegetables growth to fulfil the need of the state is the objective behind these ventures.
At a time when the economy is not doing very well and unemployment levels are high, quality and less expensive education in agriculture would Goa log way in bring down unemployment rate to a great level. It will also result in a special focus on skill development of this work force to boost the growth of economy by increasing their productivity and also lead to distributive justice and equity through increased income of this workforce which is very large in number.
Youngsters can opt for agriculture related causes right from school level onwards and make it really great thereby realising the dream of becoming a “job giver” rather than “job seeker” in the times to come.
