MARGAO
Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai on Wednesday said Goa is facing a major challenge to get the 25,000 hectares of fallow agricultural land under cultivation, even as he batted for eco-tourism to take the State forward.
Addressing young school students at an eight-day agriculture summer camp organised by We for Fatorda behind his residence, the Agriculture Minister said the camp will orient the young minds on the vision of green Goa.
It will ignite the minds of the children to influence their parents to take up cultivation of fallow lands, he added.
Sardesai said that students who show promise will be roped in by the agriculture department as ambassadors and icons to implement various agricultural schemes.
“Goa is different from other states. One of the greatness of Goa is its greenery. We have to keep the greenery alive and make it productive for the future by cultivating the fields and consume safe food,” he added.
Saying the challenge before the government was starting cultivation on 25,000 hectares of the fallow land, Sardesai said, “We have to bring the fallow land under cultivation. People should cultivate
the fallow land and eat
safe food.”
Asserting that the vision of green Goa can be achieved via community farming, the Agriculture Minister said every Goan is duty bound to create a green, safe, clean and new and modern Goa.
“This is a unique summer camp for the young minds. Nowhere in the country you will come across agriculture camps. This camp will provide orientation to young minds to achieve Bakibab’s dream of green Goa.
The students will be taught grafting, mushroom cultivation and vermicomposting and they will be taken to various farms across the state.
“The whole idea is create interest in the urban young population in agriculture. I am trying to create a model of eco-tourism wherein tourism takes roots in the rich natural forests of Goa,” he added.
