VALPOI
Farmers have begun cultivation of various crops in Sattari, but they have appealed to the government to make more subsidised seeds available with the Zonal Agricultural Office (ZAO) in the taluka.
Cultivation of different crops have begun with the arrival of the monsoons and efforts are on to grow large quantities of turmeric and ginger in the taluka this year.
In recent times, Sattari has witnessed large-scale cultivation of crops and farmers have claimed that there has been good demand for their produce.
The farmers claimed that subsidised seeds allotted to Sattari are not easily available with the ZAO and feared that the office would soon run out of stocks within the next few days.
They have appealed to the government to provide additional stocks of subsidised seeds to the Sattari ZAO, so that they can use these seeds in their fields.
When contacted, Sattari ZAO Vishwanath Gawas said three tractors are presently available at his office.
“All these tractors are currently engaged in various types of cultivation work. The tractor drivers at this office were earlier shifted to Panaji for Covid-related duty but they returned to the ZAO in Sattari a few days ago.”
Responding to concerns from farmers regarding shortage of subsidised seeds, Gawas said: “At present, only 10 per cent of seeds have been supplied to the ZAO from the quota allotted to Sattari. This has created some problems and we have written to the agriculture department to urgently provide the required seeds,” said Gawas.
“Efforts are being made to meet the requirements of the farmers as soon as possible.”
Gawas informed that large quantities of turmeric and ginger will be planted in Sattari this year.
“Preparations have begun in this regard at different places and turmeric and ginger will be planted on 40,000 sq mtrs of land each through the ZAO,” he said.
Gawas informed that the ZAO has good quality of mango, cashew and other grafts and appealed to the public to contact his office for the grafts.
