the goan I network
VASCO
Farmers of the Ille Bhaile Khazan Tenant Association (IBKTA) in Cortalim have sought assistance from the government in the cultivation of their farmlands.
Farmers of IBKTA on Saturday complained that the government did not have adequate machineries to help in cultivation of land, despite the government’s wide propaganda to encourage youth in farming activity.
Speaking to reporters, IBKTA President Nalesh Naik refuted allegations that their farmers had filled water in their farmlands to prevent farming activity.
“The IBKTA committee had put up a new sluice gate with the help of government and had proved, for the first time in 20 years, that the Khazan land could be kept without water entering into it and extremely fit for cultivation.”
“Now with the help of soil and conservation department and Mamlatdar’s support, we have taken up work on a new sluice gate and all water has been stopped from entering the fields.”
“After we took up the works on this land, we approached government authorities (Mechanical Department) and they bluntly said they could not give us any machines and they don’t have tractors to give us for cultivation,” said Naik.
Naik said there were only a few farmers to come forward to cultivate the fields.
“I approached Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha and told her that there are many farms not utilized, while the government does not provide machines to help farmers despite claims of giving subsidies and other schemes to motivate farmers.”
“These farms are difficult to harvest manually and it involves a lot of costs like labour cost, etc. If we get machines and assistance from the government, no farmland would be left fallow.”
IBKTA treasurer Preamanand Naik said the government should make two machines (tractor and harvesting machine) available to farmers of IBKTA. “There was a tender floated to de-silt the nullahs in the farmlands of IBKTA and a sanction of Rs 29 lakh was listed for it.”
“But because of the code of conduct, the works are pending. We request the government to immediately take up the works after the code of conduct which will help us further to keep the farmlands dry and fit for cultivation,” said Naik.
