MAPUSA
Voicing the government’s concern about farmers in the State, Agriculture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said the State government will make special provision in the budget to strengthen the farmers clubs in the State.
“We are in the process of identifying genuine farmers in the State so that government benefits trickle down to sincere farmers. Government wants to strengthen the farmers club around the State and will make separate allocation in the coming budget,” Tawadkar said.
Tawadkar was speaking to the farmers of Aldona, Quitla, Corjuem and Nachinola at the premises of the Farmer’s Club of Nachinola on Friday evening.
He asked the farmers to prepare a list of the problems faced by them and to sort out their grievances with the assistant director of agriculture, whom he will depute.
“The government is preparing to give a soil testing machine to every zonal level officer. The farmers can then take benefit of the facility to cultivate right kind of crops depending on the condition of the soil,” he said.
The minister advised the farmers to develop an organic concept to also focus on high tech floriculture.
“The climate of Goa is suitable for cultivation of orchids, exploit it,” Tawadkar exhorted the farmers.
Director of Agriculture Ulhas Pai Kakode said the subsidy that Goan farmers enjoyed was highest in the country.
“So far general category farmers enjoyed 75 per cent subsidy and ST enjoyed 90 per cent. If we give 100 per cent subsidy, the farmers will buy machines and keep them idle,” Kakode said.
Earlier, the farmers spoke about various problems faced by the community while doing their business.
“Electricity department were creating problem to transfer bills from one owner to another,” said Sakaram Nagvenkar, a farmer from Aldona. He said the seeds provided by the zonal office perished causing losses to them.
In the name of building a Bandh, people were indulging in conversion of fields and spoiling crops, said another farmer.
Nachinola Sarpanch Govind Govekar, Mapusa ZAO Anil de Noronha, Assistant Agriculture Officer Manisha Bokade and others were present.
