MARGAO
Goa government’s mission to make Goa Swayampurna seems to have hardly any takers amongst farmers in Curtorim, considered the granary of Salcete.
As the paddy is being harvested, farmers from the village say the schemes and policies meant to boost agriculture have not percolated down to the cultivators on the ground, but have remained only on paper. The farmers were categorical in staying unless the government and the agriculture officials bestow the benefits and subsidies and make agriculture attractive and economical, the younger generation may look for other alternatives instead.
In fact, the office-bearers of Sirjem Add Tenants Association have made a fervent plea to the government headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik to ensure that the benefits percolate down to the farmers on the ground.
They pointed out that they have managed to survive with the support extended by local MLA Reginaldo Lourenco who made harvesters and tractors available to the farmers.
Association president Milagres Rodrigues has lamented that the government has not revised the support price of paddy for close to a decade now. That’s not all. He pointed out that even the support price and subsidies do not come to the farmers immediately, but they are made to wait for around 4-6 months.
“To make agriculture attractive and economical, the government should immediately revise the support price for paddy from Rs 20 to at least Rs 30-40. When the prices of all commodities, including diesel, have gone up, it is in the fitness of things that the support price for paddy is revised and hiked on top priority”, Milagres said. He added: “The cost of manpower is rising by the day. A male worker is now charging Rs 1000 wages per day, while the female counterpart Rs 800. Unless the government increases the support price and offers other subsidies, agriculture may not be economical anymore”.
Association Treasurer and former Sarpanch Rupesh Naik also echoed similar sentiments. He has appealed to the Chief Minister, Agriculture Minister and the Water Resources Minister to ensure that the schemes meant for the farmers do not remain on paper, but percolate to the intended beneficiaries on the ground.
“When Reginaldo Lourenco first became the MLA in 2007, he had made available tractor and harvester free of cost to the farmers. The support price for paddy was fixed around 2013, but has not been revised till date when the government has revised support price of arecanut, cashew and coconut”, he said.
The duo lamented that farmers, who were hit by the cyclonic winds, have still not been compensated by the agriculture department despite submitting details. The government will achieve Swayampurna Goem only if the ground reality for the farmers changes for the better. Officials of the Agriculture and WRD should visit the farmers and take note of their grievances. They should descend on the ground and listen to the grievances of the farmers”, he added.
