PANAJI
Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardessai informed the House that the agriculture policy, which is in the making, will focus on boosting floriculture estates, horti hubs and organic farming in the hope of developing Brand Goa in the agriculture sector.
Replying to a question tabled by Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar, Sardessai said, "Preventive and conclusive steps will be taken to boost the sector. Prime Minister Modi's Mission 2022 aims at doubling farmers' income. In consonance with this, floriculture estate development is on our mind because it is not power-intensive and is non-polluting.
We will chalk out a detailed plan for it as a part of the agriculture policy."
Leader of Opposition Chandrakant "Babu" Kavalekar questioned the execution of the schemes and demanded to know whether any Goan farmers have become crorepatis as was promised by the previous agriculture minister. Sardessai assured Kavalekar that several issues are being dealt with in the compilation of the draft agriculture policy.
"Brand Goa will be developed in the agriculture sector which a focus on sustainable model of organic farming, floriculture and horticulture hubs," the Minister said.
In addition to this, Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo pointed out that owing to the hurdles in repairing bunds, saline water is entering cultivable lands.
"Soil conservation department's utilization of the budgetary allocation is not even 10 per cent. This process will be sped up," Sardessai admitted in response.
