MARGAO
There’s good news in store for agriculturists, including coconut and mango growers in the State.
Even as the State government is bracing up to set up an Agriculture College at Old Goa from the coming Academic Year, Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik on Saturday unveiled plans to set up two separate Corporations for the promotion of coconut and mango in the State.
In fact, the Minister said the Coconut Corporation should hopefully fall in place in the next four months, adding that a separate Mango Corporation will soon follow suit. “The Memorandum of Articles is being drafted and the process towards registration of the Corporation with the Registrar of Companies will be set in motion soon,” he said, adding the Corporation should start functioning within the next one year.
Speaking at the Flora Fest, a grand nursery mela organised by Rotary Club of Margao in association with BPS Club, Margao as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav on Saturday, the Minister said the setting up of the two separate Corporations will help bring in central funds for the promotion of coconut and mango production in a big way.
He added: “The Corporations for coconut and mango development will give a big boost and benefit the farmers. We can tap the Mancurado mango potential for export in a big way. All these measures will help the farmers involved in coconut and mango production.”
A senior Agriculture Officer told the media that the department has proposed two separate Corporations for coconut and mango promotion to avail the central funds. “We had plans to set up a single corporation for both coconut and mango promotion, but it was later decided to have two corporations so that the State does not lose the central funds,” the official said.
The official further added that after the Coconut Corporation is set up, the government will rope in a company, which will help in the marketing of the produce.
Meanwhile, Ravi has urged the people of Goa to protect the State by growing more saplings. “People have neglected and converted agricultural fields. We have to protect what is left in the State for posterity,” he said.
Saying that vegetables and flowers from across the borders are coming into Goa in a big way, the Agriculture Minister made a fervent plea to the local farmers to venture into flower and vegetable production.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, President of Rotary Club of Margao Deep Karapurkar, BPS Club President Santosh George, agriculturists and department officials were present.
The Flora Fest nursery mela will be open for the public from 11 am to 8 pm on all the three days, from August 13-15.
Mormugao to get independent ZAO
MARGAO: Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik on Saturday said the department will set up an independent Zonal Agriculture Office (ZAO) for Mormugao taluka.
Conceding that the Zonal Agriculture Officer for Margao is holding additional charge of Mormugao taluka, the Minister said the department will even set up more offices if the need arises.
Agriculture Director Nevil Afonso said the process of setting up a new ZAO office for Mormugao has been set in motion, adding that the new office should become a reality in a month’s time.
Agri dept to make available ready to use soil mixed with compost
MARGAO: Agriculture Director Nevil Afonso has promised to make available ready to use soil mixed with compost in the towns to facilitate urban people to venture into kitchen gardening.
After the media drew attention of the Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik to the fact that people in the towns, specially in Margao find it difficult to get soil for kitchen gardening, the Agriculture Director said the department in the past had come out with ready to use soil mixed with compost at the Zonal Agriculture Offices. “We will come out with the ready to use soil with compost so that people in the towns can avail of the same for kitchen gardening,” he added.
