MARGAO
Farm house culture mooted in the draft Agriculture policy came in for opposition at many a gram sabha around Saxtti countryside with members expressing fears that the policy will open floodgates for corporates to take over agriculture fields and farm lands.
The draft Agriculture policy took the centre stage at most of the Panchayat bodies on Gandhi Jayanti day, with members deliberating and making host of suggestions, including timely disbursal of subsidies and compensation to the farming community.
The Nuvem gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Freda D’Sa saw members objecting to the 30-50 per cent land conversion for the purpose of farm houses.
At the Betalbatim gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes, members saw red vis-à-vis the farm culture. Members in one tone voiced their opposition to farm house culture prevailing in Delhi and Noida, saying such a policy will destroy agriculture in the State.
Deliberating on the policy at the Cavelossim gram sabha, members pointed out that the government should realise Goa is different from states such as Punjab and Haryana. “In Goa, farmers cultivate their fields for self-consumption and dispose the surplus produce in the market.
Hence, Goa should have a policy aimed at reviving agriculture taking into account the needs and requirements of the farmers”, Sarpanch Dixon Vaz said.
The Assolna gram Sabha chaired by Sarpanch Evan Fernandes adopted a resolution that outlined its vision and recommendations for the policy. The resolution stated that the Agriculture Policy for Goa should be guided by a vision that encompasses the welfare of the farmer, the preservation of his land, and the enhancement of his crops.
The resolution stressed the importance of protecting the Khazans, which are a unique agricultural heritage of Goa. The resolution called for environmental safeguards, data mapping, co-ordination among relevant departments, risk minimisation, production increase, governance simplification, and decision-making decentralisation. The resolution expressed support for the future of agriculture in Goa and urged the government to implement the policy in a timely manner.
The resolution also demanded that the Taluka and Zonal Agriculture Officers should be delegated more financial and revenue powers, such as in the case of control over Tenant Associations and quick release of subsidies. This would enable them to provide better support and guidance to the farmers and ensure timely implementation of the policy.
Upon request from the gram Sabha, Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir facilitated by Jack Mascarenhas explained how the Agriculture Policy is linked to Goan Land and Goan Identity and why all citizens need to do their bit to protect them for future generations. Santan Pereira, the Secretary of GFPK, explained the possibility of big corporates eying land in Goa and how community farming can be productive and benefit the farmers as well as consumers by eliminating the corporate.
At the Betalbatim gram sabha, members demanded that the government introduce agriculture as a subject in the vocational stream by conducting diploma courses. Members demanded that farm land should be retained as farm land, while saying no to farm house culture as is prevailing in Delhi and Noida.
A suggestion was also made to set up processing mills in both North and South Goa district and to disburse subsides at source.
