Says will release Selaulim dam water for irrigation on Dec 15
Water Resources department Minsiter Subhash Shirodkar inaugurating a tractor at Chinchinim on Sunday.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Expressing his satisfaction over the revival of agriculture in many parts of the state, Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Subhash Shirodkar has mulled export of surplus rice produced by the Goa farmers for consumption of Goans settled abroad in the UK, Africa and other countries.
Saying the WRD has embarked on a plan to make three-month provision of water at the Selaulim dam to meet the requirements of drinking, farming and the industry, Shirodkar assured the farming community that the WRD will release the Selaulim dam water in the canal for irrigation on December 15.
In a bid to give a boost for Agriculture and to involve young Goans in farming, the WRD Minister further said he has moved a file to procure two harvesters, one each for North and South Goa, promising to given one harvester to Goencho Xetkar on payment of nominal rates.
“Barring Basmati rice, the government has recently lifted the ban on export of rice. Since boiled rice is in demand, farmers in Goa can start exporting surplus rice to Goans settled in UK and Africa to begin with. They will not only get a good price, but will cater the requirements of Goans settled abroad”, Shirodkar stated at Chinchinim at the harvesting program “harvesting of the Patto fields projects” organsied by the Chinchinim Agriculture club.
He added: “After meeting the demands of the local market, farmers can export the surplus rice. They can earn extra money too. For a kilogram of boiled rice can fetch a rate of Rs 300 per kilogram as against Rs 40-50 in the local market”.
Complimenting the Chinchinim Farmers Club led by Agnelo Furtado, Goencho Xetkar and the Paddy man of Goa, Fr George Quadros for reviving fallow fields at Chinchinim, the WRD Minsiter made a fervent plea to youngsters to take up agriculture, promising of full government support to bring fallow land under cultivation “We need to protect our agriculture fields for the future generations. Hence, I appeal to the youth to take up agriculture”, he said.
The Minister also made a suggestion to the Agriculture Director, Neville Alphonso to consider increasing the subsidy for rice to Rs 20-25 to help the farmers tide over their difficulties.
Shirodkar promised the Chinchinim farmers club that the WRD will take up the work of construction of the bundh at Digaum and to clean up the canal.
As far as the Selaulim water is concerned, Shirodkar said the WRD will take up the work of cleaning and maintain the irrigation canal, promising that canal water will be release to the farmer on December 15. “Last year, canal water went waste after the water was released as per the set date, but some of the farmers could not prepare the fields to receive the water”, he said.
