PANAJI
Though the government claims that the agricultural sector is at the forefront of its priorities, the Budget 2024-25 has nothing much to offer to boost the primary sector, whose contribution to State economic growth is witnessing a downward trend.
Apart from increasing One Time Assistance to eligible vegetable growers, development of cashew cluster, Agro Food Park, the government has missed out on introducing new reforms or subsidies to further promote the sector, even though a budget provision of Rs 259 crore is earmarked.
The government has proposed to increase OT assistance to vegetable-growing groups or individuals under the scheme of “Assistance for cultivation of vegetables by Self Help Group’s/Individuals” from the current Rs. 80,000 per ha to Rs. one lakh per ha.
In a bid to enhance the production and marketing of cashew and its related products, the government is considering setting up Cashew Cluster development with financial support from National Horticulture Board. This will deal with pre-production and production of cashew crop, post-harvest management, and value addition and logistic and marketing and branding of the product.
The Chief Minister said that the government is determined to set up an Agro Food Park within the Industrial Estate in the State with the help of the central government. He also said that the first phase of the Center of Excellence (COE) will be inaugurated in the current financial year.
“Through this, our aim is to achieve high-value vegetables and flowers with high-tech intervention on production and post-harvest management at Government Agricultural Farm- Kodar,” he said.
To support small-scale farmers through e-Agri Marketing place, the government proposes to introduce an online marketing mobile app.
Further, realizing that farmers with small and marginal land holdings were receiving fewer grants under ‘Desilting and Revitalization of Ponds and Tanks,” the government has proposed to increase the assessment cost of the lake command area to Rs 70,000 per ha.
Also, under the “Western Ghat Development Programme” which is being implemented in five talukas namely Sattari, Dharbandora, Sanguem, Quepem, and Canacona, there is a proposal to increase the support to Rs 5000 per ha.
A new building for Goa College of Agriculture is also proposed for which a financial provision of Rs 10 crore.
The government has said that works of construction of Khazan band are ongoing at Ponda (8), Bicholim (4), Tiswadi (2), and one at Salcete and the same will be completed this year.
Besides these, construction of 15 Khazan dams would be taken up at Tiswadi, Bardez, Ponda, Bicholim, Salcete, and Mormugao.
