PANAJI
The agriculture department has drawn up a plan to assist farmers in Gouli Moula of Satana village and revive paddy cultivation in a khazan expanse of nearly 50-60 hectares.
Strengthening the existing bundh, desilting the small irrigation ponds (Ondde) and fitting solar pumps to assist irrigation of the fields during the post-monsoon rabi season are some of the key features of the plan.
Agriculture Director Sandeep Fol Desai and other officials inspected these khazan fields on Tuesday and interacted with the farmers where local MLA, Viresh Borkar was also present.
Fol Desai said, that the Water Resources Department had built a protective wall lining the traditional bundh about a year ago with drains at regular intervals. However the farmers here have complained that the water flows into the fields through these drains which will have to be rectified.
He said the farmers here plant two crops -- paddy in the Kharif season and vegetables in the rabi season -- and they have been informed of all the government schemes through which they can avail financial and other aid.
Borkar meanwhile, suggested providing assistance to the farmers to procure solar-powered pumps to help irrigation during their vegetable cultivation in the rabi season.
He said the main demand of the farmers to repair the Gouli Moula bundh has been raised before the Agriculture Director and he hoped that it will be done at the earliest.
