PANAJI
A move that could significantly benefit the farming community, particularly those engaged in horticulture and also help in fulfilling the “exotic” vegetable needs of Goans, a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Vegetables and Flowers, that will focus on producing high-value products, under Indo-Israel project is being set up in Goa.
The project will be implemented on 8.8ha of agriculture farm land at Codar-Ponda at a cost of Rs 11 crore, with 40 per cent State share.
Earlier last week, Israeli Ambassador to India Naor Gilon and Head of MASHAV, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel Eynat Shelin, laid the foundation stone for CoE, a two-year long project, which includes post-harvest management apart from capacity building initiative for farmers.
Speaking to The Goan, Director Agriculture Nevil Alphonso said that the project is a part of an Indo-Israel agreement, wherein the two countries have decided to help each other in the field of agriculture.
“Goa is one amongst those several States, where Israel government, with their technical support, has and is establishing such centres. After almost two years wait, the Union Government, finally approved the project for Goa,” he said.
Alphonso said that under this project 13 fully automated green houses will be set up to produce high yielding and high breed seedlings of capsicum, chillies, brinjal, cucumber etc. “Also, exotic vegetables like spinach, broccolis, lettuce and other salad crops which are in great demand in hotel industry will be cultivated using Nutrient film technique. These high-value and exotic veggies are in high demand amongst Goans and tourists too,” he explained.
He also said that focus will be on flowers like Orchids and Anthuriums, the export potential crops, with improved technology. “Entire technical know-how and capacity building to farmers will be provided by Israel government,” he added.
When asked, the Director said that the primary focus will be to produce veggies to fulfil State’s requirement and in the second phase, the markets outside Goa would be explored.
Further, the project will have fully automated irrigation and fertigation systems based on sensors and computer-based programs.
