Transplantation season of paddy commences at Betalbatim village on Sunday.
MARGAO
The pioneer in mechanized transplantation in the state, Fr George Quadros of the Don Bosco Society, Loutolim has on Sunday unveiled plans to introduce drone technology to undertake spraying operations for nutrient management, pest disease and weed control next season, even as the paddy transplantation season commenced at Betalbatim village on Sunday.
The transplanting season was officially launched by Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa in the presence of Joe Cota and Malcolm, the office bearers of Betalbatim farmers association, a newly formed farmers club of Betalbatim farmers.
An additional 20 hectare of land has been brought under cultivation with the help of mechanization.
The transplantation was personally supervised and carried out the operations which will continue for another two days.
Don Bosco Society have been the pioneers in mechanized transplanting in entire Goa state. Their application for a second machine has been pending, which is badly needed in Salcete. Zonal Agriculture Officer, Margao Sheriff Furtado, who was present at the launching of the transplanting season at Betalbatim, said Agriculture department does not have transplanters in its fleet.
“Hence authorized service providers are asked to do transplanting and claim subsidy under scheme of agriculture mechanization. Mechanical cultivation officer, Margao is empowered to settle such cases”, he said.
Briefing the media, Fr George said the Don Bosco Society has started a system where in farmers can book the machine online at a subsidized rate of Rs 1.5 per sq mts.
“We have designed a package, wherein farmers need not do anything. They have to just go to the bank or pay the fee from home on their mobile and send an SMS to us. We then come to the field after giving a date to the farmer, who has to only prepare the field roughly”, he said, adding “we then come and plough and transplant and go away”.
Saying that the missing link is weeding and fertilization of the crop, Fr George said “we are trying to get a drone for the Rabi season. The drone will take care of the weeds, fertilize the plants, both organic and non-organic and take care of the pest control”, he said.
Saying the introduction of drones will help in non-depletion of the soil, Fr George said, “The process will give fertilizers to the plants through the leaves, which will not deplete the soil.”
Betalbatim Sarpanch Constancio Miranda, ZAO margao Sheriff Furtado, President of Betalbatim Farmers Association Joe Cotta, besides Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa spoke on the occasion.
