the goan I network
MAPUSA
Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo on Saturday said the government was ready to walk an extra mile to encourage agriculture in the State but sought people’s cooperation to bring about a revolution in farming.
“Parents must inculcate love for agriculture among their children. They may be studying either to become engineers, doctors or even IT professionals but the parents must make them understand the importance of farming. Twice or at least once in a month they must be made to descend into the fields,” Lobo said.
The waste management minister was addressing a gathering of Parra farmers who were attending a meeting to register under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) to gain inputs in organic farming.
PKVY is service provider for adoption of organic farming and the meeting was held under the aegis of Directorate of Agriculture, Goa.
Continuing, Lobo said when he travelled to Europe he found people from the countryside who worked as professionals would dirty their hands in the fields in free time.
“We need to encourage youngsters in agriculture otherwise the next generation will forget what farming is,” he said.
He said he was happy to know that people in Calangute have restarted farming by forming farmer’s club.
“All those fields which were lying fallow have been sowed by the people of Calangute. The lush green fields are a sight to behold. It’s a great effort by the locals of the village,” he said.
Stating that pesticides were the cause of cancer and various other illnesses, the minister exhorted the farmers to go for organic farming. He said as per the agriculture scheme the government will provide free organic manure to farmers for three years but if need be the government could extend the period.
Bardez ZAO Raghunath Joshi and Parra Sarpanch
Delilah Lobo also spoke on the occasion.
