SANGUEM
Seizing the opportunity after being invited to put forth suggestions in the new Agriculture policy, farmers from Sanguem have demanded better facilities and safeguards as part of efforts to boost farming and to preserve agricultural lands in the taluka.
In a letter putting forth various suggestions, the Kirgal Pani Vant Op Vyavastha Sahakari Sangh Maryadit at Vocotto-Sanguem pointed out to the lack of machinery and equipment at the Sanguem Zonal Agricultural Office (ZAO).
“There are many big announcements regarding facilities given to farmers but many farmers never receive these facilities and all these facilities remain only on paper,” stated a letter signed by the association’s chairperson Constancio Mascarenhas and other members.
“Presently, there is no tractor, harvest machine, power tiller, grass cutter and other agricultural equipment with the Sanguem ZAO, which causes great hardship to farmers to go all the way to other places to bring these machinery and equipment for their day-to-day use. All necessary machinery and equipment must be urgently provided to the Sanguem ZAP to cope with the present situation and difficulties.”
They also felt that the agriculture department staff should visit farmers in person and solve the difficulties of the farmers.
Insisting that problems are not solved just by convening meetings at the Panchayat level, the association felt that subsidy given to the farmers should be with a specified time of about 2 months.
They also complained that files are kept pending at taluka level and then at the district level on account of several unreasonable reasons.
“Subsidy should be revised for accessories (machinery, pipes, sprinklers, etc.) which have been used by farmers in the fields as the rate of accessories is increasing day by day.”
Demanding the cancellation of an order bringing cashew plantations under private forest, the association also criticised a new notification asking farmers to pay fees while constructing compound wall in private properties.
“It is very difficult for farmers to survive on this extra burden on the farmers. It is difficult for farmers to protect their crops and on the other hand, the government is putting extra burden on farmers. This fee needs to be revoked,” stated Mascarenhas.
The association also felt that the RP2021 has illegally demarcated many fields (paddy) in settlement zone to help the developers, builders and politicians.
“Fertile land and the area covered under CADA is converted into plots and the authority concerned is not taking any action.”
“We also feel that a false survey was made and the rights of farmers are in danger and they need to be protected.”
The association went on to suggest the protection of natural resources.
“Khazan lands and mangroves need to be protected. All water bodies (big and small) must be preserved and maintained. Plateaus, hills and mountains are to be protected because they preserve the water and also they maintain the water level. Plateaus, slopes, low-lying areas and paddy fields need to be protected and preserved.”
Demanding that all agricultural crops must be covered under the central insurance policy, the farmers have also suggested proper coordination between the departments of land survey, revenue, TCP, and law.
The farmers sought an immediate halt in conversion of agricultural lands for non-agricultural purposes or for construction activities. They also suggested regular cleaning of water bodies so that the flow of water is not affected in the long run.
The farmers also felt the need to update survey holdings to keep track of those cultivating paddy fields, as many a times farmers are compelled to approach courts to get their names recorded in the survey holdings which are in their cultivatory possession.
