CANACONA
Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phaldessai has appealed to farmers in Canacona to make use of fallow lands to promote farming and to opt for organic farming on a large scale.
Phaldessai was speaking during a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the new Market Sub-Yard of the Goa Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Board (GAPLMB) at Chaudi Canacona. Others present included Canacona Municipal Council Chairperson Ramakant Naikgaunkar, GAPLMB Chairman Prakash S Velip, Director of Agriculture Neville Alphonso and others.
Stating that the State government does not need middlemen between farmers and consumers, Phaldessai said the GAPLMB is doing a fine job in giving a boost to the produce of farmers in the State.
In his welcome address, GAPLMB Vice Chairman Premanand Bankalkar said Sub“Yard will consist of the two-storeyed building by the side of present Market Yard at Chaudi-Canacona.
The ground floor will contain shops to be constructed at a cost of Rs 3.49 crore in the first phase, while the second phase will have offices on the first floor and a hall on the second floor.
GAPLMB Chairman Prakash Velip said the GAPLMB has 380 offices, deals in 27 different commodities with a turnover of Rs 20 crore.
“We are also in contact with the government to start a pack-house concept (dealing in exports) on experimental basis,” he said.
Director of Agriculture Neville Alphonso said the State government is planning to launch the E-Marketing App for the benefit of farmers and agriculturists in the next 7-8 months.
Alphonso clarified that the government does not fix the market rate of farm produce but only provides and extends support price to farmers.
