VALPOI
The new building of the Zonal Agriculture Office at Valpoi will finally be inaugurated on October 13 at 11 am and the new facilities are expected to benefit 8,000 farmers in Sattari taluka.
The ceremony will be held in the presence of Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Pramod Sawant, local MLA and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, and Poriem MLA and Goa Forest Development Corporation Chairperson Deviya Rane and other officials.
The inauguration programme had been postponed three times over the past few months, despite the completion of construction work.
The repeated delays had caused disappointment among farmers, who were eagerly awaiting the opening of the new facility. The building’s foundation stone was laid nearly four years ago, while construction was completed approximately six months ago.
The ZAO plays an important role in providing farmers with information about government schemes, subsidies, cultivation techniques and technical guidance. However, the office had continued to function from an old and dilapidated building, causing inconvenience to employees and farmers.
The old premises reportedly had cracks in the walls, inadequate space and insufficient office facilities. During the monsoon, water entered the building, creating problems for computers, equipment and documents. Limited space and frequent technical issues also affected the smooth functioning of office work.
Despite the completion of the new building, the continued delay in its inauguration had raised questions among farmers and local residents. The announcement of October 13 as the final inauguration date has, therefore, brought relief to the farming community.
Sattari taluka has approximately 8,000 agricultural cardholder farmers, making the Valpoi Divisional Agriculture Office an important centre for agricultural services.
Farmers expect the new building to improve access to information on government schemes, subsidy applications, agricultural documentation, crop management and modern farming techniques. They also hope that improved facilities will help reduce delays and the need for repeated visits to the office.
Farmers have appealed to the agriculture department to develop the new office into a centre for technical guidance and training rather than limiting it to administrative work.
They expect regular workshops and information camps on paddy cultivation, cashew and fruit farming, soil testing, pest and disease management, drip irrigation, water conservation and modern agricultural practices. Guidance on government schemes, eligibility requirements and subsidy applications would also help farmers save time and money.
With agriculture facing challenges such as uncertain rainfall, rising production costs, labour shortages and crop diseases, timely technical assistance is considered essential for improving productivity.
