Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inaugurating the farmers’ meet organised on the occasion of Seva Fortnight at Sanquelim.
BICHOLIM
Stating that the mission of a self-reliant Goa has now completed five years, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant praised the growing push towards locally grown and manufactured products.
He was speaking after inaugurating a farmers’ meet organised on the occasion of Seva Fortnight in Sanquelim in the presence of WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Poriem MLA Deviya Rane, Maem MLA Premendra Shet and others.
“During the Dussehra festival, only 50 per cent of marigolds came from outside the State and 50 per cent were produced by Goans. Similarly, 40 per cent of vegetables sold by the Goa Horticulture Corporation today are vegetables grown by Goan farmers,” said Sawant.
“While the government spends a lot on agriculture, farmers should show interest in the sector. If today’s farmers do not go out to the fields, the next generation will not venture into farming. They should be guided about farming and taken to the fields.”
Speaking on the need to pursue community farming, the Chief Minister said farmers have several thousand square metres of land lying fallow.
“If we combine them, there are lakhs of square metres of land lying fallow. The government is providing all possible help for all kinds of agricultural activities. In a village like Amona, the government built a dam at a cost of Rs 42 crore, but farmers are not coming to the fields,” said Sawant.
“Goa has to spend crores of rupees on cattle fodder from outside the State. If this fodder is grown in our open spaces, farmers will benefit,” he added.
WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar emphasised the economic benefits of the dairy business in the State.
“If farmers work systematically, they can achieve a turnover of Rs 50-100 crore from this business. The State government is ready to cooperate with all types of agricultural activity, but farmers should come forward,” said Shirodkar.
“The Water Resources Department has offered various schemes to provide water to farmers,” he added.
MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade, MLAs Deviya Rane and Premendra Shet also spoke at the event. On the occasion, the best-performing cooperative societies, farmers’ cooperative credit societies, and progressive farmers were felicitated by the chief guests.
