PANAJI
In what could come as a major relief to farmers in mining-affected areas, the Directorate of Agriculture has proposed a Rs two crore scheme to provide additional subsidy support to farmers holding valid Krishi Cards in designated mining-affected areas of the State.
The proposal comes at a particularly difficult time for the farming community, with Goa having just endured its driest monsoon in decades. The state ended the June-September season with a rainfall deficit of around 32 per cent, while North Goa recorded an even sharper shortfall of 36.8 per cent, according to rainfall data reported from the India Meteorological Department.
Against this backdrop of poor and erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells and mounting pressure on rain-dependent agriculture, the proposed subsidy could provide some financial cushion to cultivators already operating in areas affected by mining-related activity. The department has proposed Rs one crore each for farmers from mining affected areas of North and Kushavati district. As per the proposal placed before the North Goa District Mineral Foundation Trust (NGDMFT) and Kushavati District Mineral Foundation Trust (KDMFT) farmers would receive an additional subsidy of 15 per cent, 10 per cent and 5 per cent over the existing subsidy levels of 50 per cent, 75 per cent and 90 per cent, respectively, depending on the agricultural scheme/input involved. The additional assistance would be restricted to eligible farmers from designated mining-affected areas. The NGDMFT contribution would be capped at Rs 20,000 per farmer across all schemes, with assistance proposed to be released on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications would be processed and forwarded by the Directorate of Agriculture to NGDMFT, with the payment made through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The Managing Committee, while discussing the proposal, noted that the additional subsidy would strengthen support for eligible farmers in the designated mining-affected areas. It also reiterated that the NGDMFT assistance should remain capped at Rs 20,000 per farmer and also directed the department to ensure that the scheme is in place till March 2027. The Agriculture department provides 50 per cent subsidy towards crop protection, mechanization, horticulture produce, etc, while 75 per cent subsidy is for irrigation infrastructure, soil and organic management, dairy expansion among others. Community farming, eco farming, micro irrigation activities attracts subsidy upto 90 per cent.
