MARGAO
On World Food Day, Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik opened a Gene bank of Mangoes to protect the local varieties of the popular and juicy mangoes from extinction.
But, he also had a clear message for Niz Goemkars on World Food Day -- protect the agricultural land of their ancestors before Goans turn strangers in their own homeland.
Sounding caution, Ravi further said people from Delhi and other states are eyeing Goa’s fertile agriculture land, saying the day will not be far away when outsiders become owners of the state’s agricultural land. Coming out strongly against agriculture land conversion, Ravi warned that if conversions are not stopped immediately, it will not take much time to turn Goa into Delhi.
He said Goa needs tourists to visit the state, but at the same time asserted that agricultural lands should not be converted for non-agricultural purpose.
As Ravi descended at the government Durga farm in Chinchinim village with Agriculture Director Neville Alphoso and other officials, besides MLAs Cruz Silva and Ulhas Tuemkar, expectations were high the agriculture Minster would unveil future agriculture plans for Goa, more so when the draft Agriculture Policy is under public scrutiny.
Instead, the Minister kept insisting during his speech the need to preserve and conserve the fertile agriculture fields for the sake of posterity. To drive home the point how important is it to preserve the state’s agricultural land, the Agriculture Minister reminded that Goa’s land area is just one third in size of neighbouring Belagavi district. “We have to protect our land resources for cultivation and for posterity. Our people go abroad for the purpose of employment. But, those who are staying here should go for agriculture”, he said, while exuding confidence that youth trained by the agriculture department will take agriculture forward.
When a scribe drew attention of the Agriculture Minister to the rampant land conversion taking place in the state, which may make agriculture extinct, Ravi said the agriculture department is not involved in land conversions. “That department comes under a different Minister. We are not encouraging conversions of agricultural land”, he asserted.
Agriculture Director Neville Alphonso said plays host to over 100 varieties of mangoes and the gene bank will help conserve mangoes from extinction. “Right now, we have 32 varieties of mangoes at the gene bank housed at the Durga farm. In days to come, we will add more varieties”, he said ,while appealing to the people to help the department in identifying locally known mangoes varieties.
He added: The gene bank will not only help to protect the mangoes from becoming extinct, but will also help in the commercial exploitation of the mangoes in the future”.
The Agriculture Minister also inaugurated a fodder cafeteria at the Durga farm, which is being set up to help farmers go for fodder to meet the requirements of the dairy industry.
