PANAJI
The State government appointed committee under Minister Ravi Naik has now set March-end as the new deadline to complete the State agriculture policy.
The committee held its meeting on Monday, wherein the “Focus Area” reports- the base for policy document- submitted by the five-sub committees, was discussed. Total 35 focus areas have been identified by the State level committee based on 3700-odd suggestions received from the stakeholders.
The 24-members State Level Committee, during its first meeting held in September, 2023, had announced plans to finalize the “farmer centric” Goa State Agriculture policy, with a road map for next ten years before the Republic Day, January 26, 2024. However, the committee had no meetings thereafter.
Sources informed that the five-sub committees constituted to study the Focus/Thrust Areas have submitted their reports and the same has been taken up for discussion. “We have finalized the report of one sub-committee,” sources said adding “the next meeting will be scheduled soon after the State Assembly session”.
A total of over 3,751 suggestions from individuals, farmers groups, village panchayats and other stakeholders have been received for the policy. “These suggestions need to be studied and considered,” sources said.
Based on the suggestions, the Committee had identified focused areas like agriculture and horticulture development, integrated farming, land, soil and watershed development, khazan land, fertilizer, nutrient, pesticide and pest management, agro tourism, organic and natural farming, agriculture export, storage and warehousing, climate and environment, agriculture in school curriculum and research.
