PANAJI
Can Goa become an organic state? Yes, provided the agriculture department and fisheries and animal husbandry work together as a team to implement the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, a central government scheme that aims in improving fertilizer production in states.
The enlisted projects to be implemented for financial year 2016-17 include setting up of rice mills at Dhargal, cage cultures in Canacona, fodder plants and hydroponics units for Goa Dairy as well as programmes for the animal husbandry department.
Speaking to ‘The Goan’, Agriculture Director Ulhas Kakode said, though the projects were aimed at increasing productivity in the state, going organic was a possibility with added efforts.
“Currently organic fertilizers are majorly used in production of coconuts and cashew nuts in the state. Here farmers are already using organic means. Goa can be an organic state but will take a long time to reach that level,” said Kakode.
Comparing the state to Sikkim, Kakode said the state had a long way to go in following suit. “There is a lot of initial preparation that is required for the state. The use of chemical fertilizers needs to be completely replaced with natural means including bio fertilizers, composting and vermicomposting,” he said.
He added that Sikkim had taken 13 years to attain the status of an organic state and while Goa has the potential to do the same, it would take a long time. According to the department, most cashew and coconut plantations, except for certain institutions, use organic fertilizers.
