Goa Forward questions farmers
on support to coconut amendment
THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Goa Forward president on Thursday questioned the Goa Coconut Farmers Association’s decision to support the government’s recent amendment to remove the coconut from the classification of a tree.
The delegation of Goa Coconut Farmers Association led by its chairman, Subhash Prabhudessai welcomed the government’s decision saying it had made cutting old trees easier.
“This amendment however makes no distinction between diseased tree and healthy tree. Further, declassification of coconut tree is a symbol to tell all Goans - loud and clear - that we will do whatever we want with Goa's natural environment. It is a bell to all Goans,” said Timble.
The association had also asked that the government declare the coconut a State tree and setting up of a coconut museum. The Goa Forward president however said talk of coconut museums were only “terminological fads to divert attention using intellectual verbosity.”
The Goa Coconut Farmers Association also demanded that if non coconut farmers who did not possess Krishi Card wanted to cut more than five coconut trees at a time should have to follow some stringent formalities.
Other demands of the Association included increasing the present support price of Rs 8 per nut given by the government to Rs 15 per nut & passing legislation for contract farming in Goa and establishing a coconut museum in Goa.
