PANAJI
With just a month left for the expiry of the term of 24-member committee, constituted to draft the State Agriculture Policy, the State government has granted time till March 31, 2024 to the committee, to submit the policy document.
In June, a committee under Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik was constituted to work out a comprehensive agriculture policy for Goa. The committee was directed to finalise the policy within six months. The committee held its first meeting in September.
Director Agriculture Nevil Alphonso in a notification issued has informed “Government is pleased to extend the duration of the reconstituted Committee to work out the Agriculture Policy for the State of Goa, for another four months upto March 31, 2024”.
The government has further reconstituted the committee to include six other members including Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and Mayem MLA Premendra Shet. The committee has to suggest means to develop agriculture as well as methods to protect and improve available resources like land, water, bio-diversity and genetic resources. Apart from focusing on market driven economy, the committee has to also suggest measures to involve the PPP model for new agriculture ventures.
The committee had announced plans to finalize the “farmer centric” Goa State Agriculture policy, with a road map for next ten years before the Republic Day, January 26, 2024.
Accordingly, it had invited suggestions from the stakeholders including farmers, panchayats and the general public. A total of over 850 suggestions from individuals and farmers groups were received in the month of July-August.
The department thereafter held taluka level meetings and also directed panchayats to hold special Gram Sabha meetings on October 2 to seek inputs.
