GUILHERME ALMEIDA
MARGAO
Will water flow into the irrigation canal network, running into thousands of kilometers in Salcete’s countryside with a new government in office? Or, will the large tracts of agricultural land lying fallow across the taluka despite the vast irrigation canal network, put in place by spending hundreds of crores of public money, see a turn around with the Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai hailing from the taluka?
Perhaps for the first time, the Agriculture portfolio has not only come to Salcete taluka, but the Water Resources Department is also with the regional political party, raising hopes that a close coordination between the two departments can help revive agriculture in Salcete, especially in the command area of the Selaulim irrigation project.
Indeed, thousands of kilometers of irrigation canal has been lying idle in the agricultural fields in the villages of Velim, Ambelim, parts of Cuncolim, Assolna, Chinchinim, Dramapur-Sirlim, Telaulim and Navelim. Built by successive government in the 90’s and the last decade, the canal network has never been put to the intended use of reviving agriculture in these villages.
Interestingly, one has come across politicians of all hues jostling to occupy space amongst the farming community with free distribution of fertilisers, paddy seeds and mechanised tools and implements, including power tillers, harvesters et al. Sadly, no serious attempt had ever been made to bring about close coordination between the Agriculture and Water Resources departments to achieve the avowed objective of reviving the fallow agricultural fields in these villages. “There’s never been any close coordination between the Agriculture and WRD to convince the farmers to cultivate the fallow fields. Even today, one should not be surprised if WRD officials say the department is ever willing to supply water through the irrigation canals on condition the farmers put forth their request. Unless the two departments coordinate and get the farmers back into the fields with promises of mechanisation, the situation may not improve on the ground,” a farmer from Velim told The Goan.
One of the main reasons behind the fields lying fallow in these villages is the exorbitant labour cost, making the agricultural activity uneconomical. “This is where the Agriculture ministry should come forward with attractive offers, including the new concept of community farming. Given the small size of the land holdings, a problem akin in Goa, mechanisation is yet to create the desired impact in these villages,” remarked a farmer.
When The Goan contacted Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai to shed light on his plans for Salcete, he said that a proper policy would be formulated to ensure that the canal network is put to use as well as the fallow fields are again cultivated. “I feel we should have a long term policy. We have to begin somewhere. When there’s a vast network of irrigation canal lying idle, we have to find ways and means of not only putting the network to use, but also persuade the land owners to cultivate the fields,” Sardesai said.
The Agriculture minister wondered why agriculture cannot succeed in the rest of Salcete if farming has made rapid strides in Curtorim, considered the granary of Salcete. “We have to make a beginning somewhere. I will soon hold a meeting with officials of the Agriculture and Water Resources departments seeking firsthand information on the situation in Salcete, with focus on the areas covered by the irrigation canal network,” he added.
