the goan I network
PONDA
Barely days after the Mormugao Municipal Council’s (MMC) request for 100 free Goan fruit-bearing saplings was rejected by the agriculture department, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said the government plans to promote local fruit-bearing trees by planting indigenous Goan species on communidade land.
The minister even managed to distribute 1,500 saplings in all six panchayats of Marcaim constituency.
Dhavalikar distributed saplings to farmers at Kundaim Panchayat in the presence of Kundaim Sarpanch Ramu Naik, Deputy Sarpanch Mohan Gaude panchayat members, Vishwas Phadte, Sanchita Parwar and Shilpa Kuvelkar.
“We can use communidade land where the agriculture department can undertake intensive plantation,” said Dhavalikar.
The minister appealed to communidades to make land available in Marcaim and Kundaim, where the government would plant local fruit-bearing trees.
“If the land is made available, the fruits of these trees will be given to the communidades, which will be a source of income for them. Moreover, the land will be maintained by the agriculture department,” he said.
The minister on Wednesday distributed 1,500 saplings in all six panchayats of Marcaim constituency and stated that growing trees would help protect the environment.
Kundaim Sarpanch Ramu Naik also spoke on the occasion.
It may be recalled that the MMC had plans to plant 100 Goan fruit-bearing saplings as part of its centenary celebrations and the MMC Chief Officer had written to the agriculture department to provide 100 saplings free of cost as part of its centenary celebrations.
However, the agriculture department flatly rejected MMC’s request for 100 Goan fruit-bearing saplings free of cost.
“The Directorate of Agriculture does not have any schemes wherein fruit-bearing plants are given free of charge. The fruit-bearing plants can be purchased from any government farms located at Margao, Kalay and Ela at reasonable rates,” stated a letter from the agriculture department which even enclosed a copy of rates for various planting materials sold.
