PANAJI
Five Goa State award-winning farmers were felicitated at the hands of Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) president Ralph de Sousa recently for their innovative and outstanding contribution to the agriculture sector.
Among these five were Goa ‘Krishi Ratna 2022' awardee Rajat R Prabhu from Nirankal Ponda, ‘Krishi Vibhushan’ awardees Gaspar Fernandes from Anjuna Bardez and Rajendra J Desai from Pawangal-Dharbandora, ‘Krishi Bhushan’ awardee Sanjay S Rane from Wadawal Bicholim and Fr Inacio Almeida State Award for Organic Farming recipient Shekhar Parashtekar of Parashtem Pernem.
There was an interaction with the farmers to understand their issues and expectations to find the best way forward. Congratulating the awardees GCCI president said, “India’s agriculture sector is not just self-sufficient but the technological advancements have made it a profitable and investor-friendly enterprise,” and complimented the budding entrepreneurs and start-ups for venturing into this sector, leaving behind government and corporate jobs, to achieve their dreams.
The ‘Krishi Ratna’ awardee, Rajat Prabhu, opted to do his BBA in Agriculture through DBSKKV-Dapoli instead of a degree in engineering as his farmer father wanted him to do. “This has paid rich dividends and I am doing the work that I loved to do,” admitted Prabhu. Shekhar Parashtekar not only does vermin-composting for his own farm but has also been empowering his neighbours and others with the skills. “Parashetkar truly deserves the only state award named after the ‘Father’ of organic farming in Goa, Fr Inacio Almeida sfx who worked tirelessly for the promotion of safe and healthy food production in Goa, a territory that was organic and self-sufficient in food in the early days of liberation,” said GCCI president.
Chairman of the GCCI Agriculture & Food Processing Committee, Orlando Rodrigues, and mentor Dr Sangam Kurade complimented the awardee-entrepreneurs. Earlier, Miguel Braganza introduced and briefed on the work of these agriculture entrepreneurs. Ambika Dhakhenkar, assistant director of GCCI anchored the felicitation programme and Orlando Rodrigues proposed the vote of thanks.
