MARGAO
Asserting that the land and the very identify of Goans is connected to the Goa Agriculture Policy, the Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir has urged the people of Goa to join and participate in the October 2 Special gram sabhas and voice their concerns about the problems such as agriculture, land conversions, etc.
Addressing the media, GFPK President Jack Mascarenhas has said that participation of Goans at the October 2 gram sabha is necessary to safeguard Goan land and Goan identify for the coming generations.
“The Department of Agriculture is working on an Agricultural Policy for the first time. The public was invited to submit their suggestions till September 15. However, to ensure better public participation and a bottom-up approach as per the Constitution, the Minister of Agriculture has opened another window for feedback. He has requested all the Panchayats of Goa to hold discussions and pass resolutions on the suggestions for the Agricultural Policy by the villagers and farmers”, Mascarenhas said.
He pointed out that Goa’s agriculture faces many challenges, such as land conversions, construction activity, pollution from sewage and garbage, increased storm water runoffs, Krishi card issues, subsidy procedures, delayed or denied compensation, machinery problems, water management, infrastructure, access to machinery, pesticides and weedicides, soil revival, crop rotation, marketing, vermin attacks, mining impacts, institutional mismanagement, financial needs, community assets, etc.
“The age-old fine-tuned farming system has been disrupted. The Comunidade and Gaonkary institutions have become dysfunctional in many places. The tenant associations have been taken over by vested interests who prefer fish farming over paddy cultivation and land conservation”, he said.
In this context, the Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir have urged all the farmers and villagers to attend the meetings, provide inputs, discuss the problems and find solutions.
“Food security is not only the responsibility of the farmer who produces it, but also the right of the villager who consumes it. Youth and students also need to be involved in our future efforts in this area”, he said, while making a fervent appeal to protect the village natural resources, land, water bodies, plantations and crops, and make the village Swayampurn/self-reliant as announced by the government.
Mascarenhas said the Special Gram Sabha on October 2 will be a great opportunity for us to shape and save agriculture in Goa and honour our identity as sons and daughters of the soil of Goa.
