PANAJI
As Goa cashew (kernel) gets Geographical Indication (GI) tag, the State government has decided to crack down on all those wholesale and retail shops that import cashew from Africa and sell them under “Goan cashew” tag.
Speaking to media persons at the sidelines of Millet festival, Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik said that several shopkeepers are involved in importing cashews from Africa and selling it as Goan cashews.
“We have decided to take strict action against all such shopkeepers or wholesalers. The department of civil supplies and consumer affairs is directed to crackdown on all such shops,” he said.
Naik said that the sale of such imported cashews is affecting local cashew sales. “We are not going to tolerate this,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking during the Millet festival, the Minister gave a call to young farmers in the State to venture into agriculture so as to preserve Goan identity and its natural beauty.
He said that it is high time that Goan farmers cultivate their agricultural land.
“Agricultural land abandoned by farmers will attract real estate investors and our fields may turn into concrete jungle in the near future. It is important that we bring the large tracts of land under agriculture. The State government is providing subsidies right from purchase of seeds to machinery,” he said.
He further said that farming will lead the people towards self-sustainability hence Goans will have to experiment and cultivate different types of veggies.
Director Agriculture Nevil Alphonso informed that at present 20 hectares of land is under Millet cultivation in the State and that the Department is intending to enhance the production from 20 hectares to 50 hectares in near future.
