PANAJI
The farmers in Goa are facing challenges due to the changed weather conditions and are at a stage where many are opting out of agricultural activities due to the heavy losses they suffer. Taking the lead, Goa Bagayatdar Sahakari KVS Maryadit, the village based cooperative society of the horticulturists, had formulated a three-member paid committee to study the changing weather conditions in Goa, and their impact on the State agricultural sector in June this year (2021).
The committee has former director of Agriculture Satish Tendulkar, former deputy director of Agriculture Satish Dev and former subject matter specialist at Krushi Vidnyan Kendra Goa, Vishram Gaonkar. These experts, who are agriculturists themselves, studied the changing circumstances in which the farmers have to work to meet their goals and the rising challenges before the agricultural sector.
As the changing climatic conditions have impacted adversely on the traditional crop cycles, the committee had been assigned to work on around 40 different points and guide the farmers about how to reap profits from traditional crops, experimenting on new crops, maintaining soil condition, learning about fertility ratio, suitable fertilisers and their usage and also marketing techniques. The farmers in Goa are now looking forward to the suggestions this committee comes out with.
“Similar to the lines of the private committee set up by Goa Bagayatdar, the Goa government also, has set up a committee to study the impact of climate change on local farming activities. If this committee takes the local farmers into confidence, listens to their woes and issues, and works on appropriate solutions before putting forth its suggestions before the government or implementing them, it will go a long way in offering some solace to Goan farmers,” states Shrirang Jambhale, principal, Ramnata Crisna Pai Raikar School of Agriculture, Savai-Verem.
The principal, who is also a horticulturist himself, adds, “In Goa, we are experiencing that there is no winter season now. While all the three seasons are a must for the agricultural cycle to run smoothly, the absence of winter cold will give rise to many other issues. The farmers toil the entire year round and if during the harvesting season, which falls in winter, the climatic conditions are not suitable, or if the rain continues, then harvesting of crops like areca nuts becomes difficult. It is at this time that the nuts are fully ripened and should be plucked. After the first harvesting, 10 days gap is maintained and the second harvesting is done. But the prolonged rainy weather hampers this process. The areca nuts need natural sunshine to dry in the open to get white colour which fetches good market price.”
The two committees, private and government, can either work hand in hand or combine their suggestions and work jointly towards a common goal, feel farmers. Formulating such a committee was a timely decision taken by the Goa Bagayatdar, which has supermarkets and market yards for selling and buying various agricultural products. The organisation is looked upon as a platform for sellers and buyers to trade their products at a profitable price and has members in thousands, across the State.
Farmer Ashok Joshi from Valpoi whose horticultural farm borders the wildlife sanctuary, points out a serious danger of Goan farmers weaning away from farming.
