the goan I network
MAPUSA
Nudging the government against the trend of ministers rushing to Israel in bid to revive agriculture, Acting Speaker and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Wednesday said several former agriculture ministers also visited Israel in the past to oversee farming in that country, but failed to implement any constructive plans to improvise farming in Goa.
“Our agriculture minister has gone to Israel to oversee farming. Every MLA who becomes agriculture minister goes to Israel and talks highly about farming over there. Will visiting Israel ensure that plans to revive agriculture are implemented in Goa? Will we be able to convince our children to get into agriculture?” Lobo questioned.
The Calangute MLA was addressing a gathering at a function to facilitate 27 farmers for their contribution in farming and social work in Calangute.
Continuing, Lobo said he along with a group of people had gone to Germany, Austria and Italy to oversee garbage treatment plants and after coming back, ensured that the plant was set up in Goa.
“We went, saw and ensured that a similar waste treatment plant was set up here. It’s a No 1 garbage treatment plant which treats waste from the coastal belt right up to Morjim,” he said.
Pointing to the uncultivated fields in Guirim and Bastora, he said there was a trend to keep fields barren in Goa.
“Every government has failed to revive agriculture in the State,” he said.
He further disclosed that one of the man reasons for fields to remain barren was because there was no importance given to the agriculture sector and the farmer.
“Just like Don Bosco has started the first agriculture college in Goa, we need to introduce a subject on agriculture in other colleges too. The government needs to introduce a subject on agriculture from class 11 to graduation level, to give it importance and create interest among our children,” the acting speaker said.
Stating that revolution in agriculture was the need of the hour, he said it will be a big challenge for the government and the farmers to revive agriculture in the State.
Calangute Sarpanch Shawn Martins, Deputy Sarpanch, ZP, panch members and others were also present at the felicitation programme.
