MAPUSA
Bardez farmers expressed fear of constructions coming up in agricultural land which could spell the death of agriculture and called for survey of agricultural land in the State vis-Ã -vis barren and cultivated fields.
The farmers also voiced their concern about the lack of access to fields which forces them to keep away from cultivation.
The farmers and interested groups were putting forth their views and suggestions at a meeting called by the agriculture department to frame the State agriculture policy at Zonal Agriculture Office, Mapusa.
“The fields have given way to concrete constructions. Hotels and buildings are coming up in our fields. We need to formulate a policy where no constructions are permitted in agricultural land,” said Anthony D’Souza, a resident of Candolim.
He also said that lack of access was another major problem because people cannot take the machines into their fields.
Highlighting another unusual problem in the coastal village, he said mangroves have started growing in fields thereby hindering farming activity and sought a way out of the problem.
Camurlim’s Sharad Gad also expressed concern about a mega project coming up on a hill in the village, which could release its sewage water into the fields lying on the plains below.
In order to stop constructions in fields, the President of Shree Bodgeshwar Shetkari Sangh, Sanjay Barde opined that the TCP and the NGPDA should procure NOC from the agriculture department for construction projects.
Another farmer suggested that agricultural land should be declared as no-development zones to avoid construction projects in fields.
A farmer from the coastal belt said that tourism policy should be framed keeping in mind the interest of farmers.
