PANAJI
Suggesting the inclusion of salt cultivation in the agriculture department, Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik on Thursday said the agriculture department could then provide benefits of all agriculture schemes, subsidies and compensation to the salt cultivators.
The salt cultivators have been hit by losses due to unseasonal rain, prompting them to demand compensation from the government.
"There are many salt cultivation areas or Mitaghors in Goa. These cultivators have faced losses due to unseasonal rains. Salt cultivation is under the industries department. I have met with the director of industries and if Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho agrees to transfer salt cultivation to the agriculture department, the department can help with subsidies and compensation during losses due to unseasonal rains,” Ravi Naik.
According to data, there were 36 villages previously involved in salt production and it has now dropped to nine villages. Low income, lack of skilled labour, competition from industries producing salt and losses due to damage of embankments are some of the major reasons responsible for a reduction in the number of salt pans.
Naik assured that farmers who have suffered losses due to unseasonal rains would be compensated according to the procedures.
"The agriculture department will assess the claims of farmers who suffered losses due to unseasonal rains and will decide how to compensate them soon," said Naik.
