PANAJI
Taking potshots at the government with his typical one-liners, Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai on Friday alleged that allocations made in the budget for procurement of locally grown vegetables from farmers were seemingly to make Belagavi and not Goa Swayampurna (self-sufficient).
Sardesai, who was speaking on the demands for grants pertaining to agriculture, said that budgetary allocation for procurement of vegetables from farmers has been nearly halved from Rs 8.4 crore last year to Rs 4.5 crore in the current financial year.
"I cannot understand your (govt's) logic. This will not make Goa Swayampurna. This is sure to make Belagavi Swayampurna," Sardesai said.
The Agriculture department, through the Goa State Horticulture Development Corporation, buys vegetables from local farmers at fixed minimum support prices. It also simultaneously buys a large amount of daily use vegetables from mandis in Belagavi and neighbouring areas for sale through horticulture retail outlets at prices lower than prevailing market rates.
Sardesai also red-flagged the large-scale import of marigolds from neighbouring States and demanded that this should be banned by the government in the week leading to the Dussehra. He said, some 260-odd Goan farmers produce approximately 180 tonnes of marigolds but they are threatened by the import from other States due to price under-cutting.
Meanwhile, pointing out yet another budget related folly, Sardesai pointed out that the government created a new agriculture budget sub-head called 'Millet Promotion" which was noteworthy.
"However what is the allocation for this new budget sub-head? A meagre Rs 3,000," Sardesai said.
