MAPUSA
Vouching for organic farming, Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo said there was a need to encourage the youth in Goa to get involved in farming activity.
“We have to find a way to make our youth interested in farming. The youngsters will develop an interest in farming only after seeing the activity firsthand. The youth like to observe and follow, and that is where the role of parents and teachers come into play,” Ticlo said.
“The pandemic has taught us a lot. Many Goans including youth have taken up cultivation during the lockdown,” he added.
The Aldona MLA was addressing a gathering after inaugurating an exhibition cum sale of farm products organized by the Farmers Club of Nachinola.
Nachinola Sarpanch Pooja Mayekar, Deputy Sarpanch Freddy Fernandes, President of Farmers Club of Nachinola, Vithal Naik and others were also present.
Speaking further, Ticlo said pesticides were responsible for the rise of several ailments and stressed the need to get into organic farming for the good of all.
“Cancer and illnesses have gone up as we consume vegetables and fruits that are sprayed with pesticides. Organic farming is the need of the hour. All farmers should take up organic farming,” he said.
He said the Covid-19 pandemic brought a lot of misery to the whole world but it also helped the people how to live in the new world order.
“During the pandemic, many of the locals “ the young and the old “ stepped into the fields and took up farming in a big way. Many have taken up kitchen gardening,” he said.
According to the Aldona MLA, it was the responsibility of every individual to protect and maintain our fields and hills.
“We should all work hand in hand to maintain our fields and hills which are important aspects of the environment. Our constituency is green and beautiful and the credit to maintain it so goes to all the people of Aldona,” said Ticlo, who is also the Chairman of Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC).
The President of Farmers Club of Nachinola, Vithal Naik informed that the club had organized several workshops for the benefits of the farmers.
Incidentally, Ticlo is the second MLA in Bardez who has called on the youth to get involved in farming. A couple of days ago, Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza had also urged the youth to take up farming as a career.
