PANAJI
The Goa government has signed an MoU with NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS) to set up a Project Management Unit (PMU) for implementing the Goa State Agriculture Policy on the ground and also AgriStack, a flagship initiative of the Centre aimed at building a digital ecosystem in the sector.
The MoU was signed during the ‘Krushi Pe Charcha’ seminar at Sankhali. Officials said NABCONS will provide technical expertise and project management support to ensure both AgriStack and the State agriculture policy are tangibly implemented on the ground.
Agristack creates a comprehensive database of farmers, farmland and services, where each farmer is assigned a unique Digital Farmer ID linked to geo‑referenced land records and crop data. The platform is expected to ease access to bank loans, enable targeted subsidies and streamline delivery of farm services.
The Goa State Agriculture Policy, which was released over a year ago by the late Ravi Naik, then agriculture minister, lays out a roadmap for sustainable farming and diversification, but the agriculture department is yet to show progress in its implementation.
Some key features of the policy include promoting organic farming and a corresponding reduction of chemical inputs. Support for mechanisation, water management through revival of traditional irrigation systems, and crop diversification beyond paddy, with incentives for pulses, vegetables and horticulture are some of the policy's other features.
The policy also stresses protecting khazan lands, promoting agro‑tourism and encouraging youth in farming. Officials said the PMU will act as a bridge between government departments, NABARD and farmers even as it will monitor progress, resolve bottlenecks and ensure schemes reach beneficiaries.
The move comes as Goa faces challenges of shrinking cultivable land, erratic monsoons and declining farm incomes. By combining digital infrastructure with policy measures, the government hopes to revive agriculture and make it more resilient.
