OLD GOA
St Andre MLA Borkar along with agriculture department officials on Tuesday visited the khazan fields at Shilpa and Nedda in Neura, to discuss about plans to revive farming activity before the onset of monsoon.
Later speaking to The Goan, Borkar said these khazan fields have remained uncultivated over the years due to saline water flooding.
“However, after concerted efforts from various departments, these fields are now devoid of saline water flooding and are ready to be reused for cultivation,” Borkar said, while stating that Tuesday’s visit of the Agriculture department officials was to plan the way ahead to restart farming in these fields.
“Though the fields are ready for cultivation, one problem persists and that is the transportation of the tractor to the site. Therefore, we have decided to make use of the Cortalim ferry boat to get the tractor to these areas so that the fields could be tilled,” the MLA stated.
When questioned on the number of farmers who have come forward to restart farming, Borkar said for the moment around 60 farmers from Neura have shown willingness.
“But we have to find out how many of them own fields in these dry areas and accordingly plan the way ahead,” he added.
To a question on undertaking community farming, Borkar said those farmers who are unable to restart farming this year would be contacted and their permission would be sought for cultivation through community farming.
Borkar further added that once this vast area is brought under cultivation, it could be turned into a commercial venture as the local brown rice is in great demand.
