the goan I network
VASCO
A long-pending demand of the farmers in Mormugao taluka was finally met on Friday morning after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inaugurated a new Zonal Agriculture Office (ZAO) at the Cortalim market complex.
Those present on the occasion included Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, Cortalim MLA Anton Vas, Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, Cortalim ZP Merciana Vas, Cortalim Sarpanch Senia Pereira, Sancoale ZP Anita Thorat and others.
Speaking to reporters, Sawant said it was for the first time after 60 years that a new Zonal Agriculture Office was being opened up and gave the credit to Cortalim MLA Anton Vas and Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar for having insisted on setting up a ZAO in the Mormugao Taluka.
“Salkar had almost finalised an office for ZAO at Vasco but Vas requested Salkar to get the ZAO office to Cortalim since it had around 80 percent farmers. The office will have a ZAO and clerical staff on a permanent basis and all the agricultural schemes will be updated to the farmers from here, besides offering them Krishi Card, Kissan Credit Card and also forms of agriculture subsides.”
“All facilities for farmers will be made available and the ZAO will also give inputs after checking the soil of farmers and update them on the right fertilizers needed for the farmlands. Farmers can directly tie up with the horticulture corporation which will purchase the vegetables and other products and clear the bills every fortnight,” said Sawant.
Sawant said Vas had also requested for an assured price for the farmers.
“I only request farmers not to give up on any farmland because it could be landfilled and the quality of soil will deteriorate. The ZAO will offer all technical and financial support and we are also offering 90 percent subsidy for fencing in community farming sector to prevent animals from entering farms.”
“I urge individuals to protect their agricultural land, the government has also introduced the Goa Restriction on Transfer of Agricultural Land Bill to safeguard our paddy fields. These farms will be protected for our future generations,” said Sawant.
Cortalim MLA Anton Vas said it was a dream come true to have resolved a long pending demand of the farmers in his constituency.
“We got a major advantage through this ZAO office and our 1,500 odd farmers don’t have to travel all the way to Margao for their works. We will continue to assist farmers through our Cortalim Farmers Club and as the Chairman of the Tenants association for the last three decades, we are doing our best to ensure that we can attempt to farm on lands that had been given up.”
“The pipelines laid during highway and Konkan Railway works have been blocked and cause a lot of issues to farmers and we request the CM to instruct PWD to construct culvert boxes in the area. The CM and Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik have increased our support price of paddy from Rs 20 to Rs 22, coconut from Rs 12 to Rs 15 and cashew from Rs 125 to Rs 150 and this is another major boost for the farmers of our area,” said Vas.
