MARGAO
Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai on Friday launched the community farming scheme wherein government will bear 90 per cent of the cost on a host of facilities including fencing, irrigation, well, pump, etc if farmers unite together and cultivate one hectare of contiguous agricultural fields.
The Agriculture Minister further informed that the government will enact the Contract Farming Act in the next Legislative Assembly with the objective of bringing fallow agricultural land under cultivation.
Addressing the media after inaugurating the three-day Krishi Mahotsav organised by the Agriculture department at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, the Agriculture Minister said the community farming scheme is launched as a pilot project in an area admeasuring 500 square metre and will be later applicable in farm land admeasuring one hectare. “The area should be contiguous and minimum one hectare. Let the farmers come together and the department will bear 90 per cent of the cost on fencing, well, micro irrigation, including drip and sprinklers, pump, etc,” he said.
He said the community farming scheme will also be applicable for organic farming, saying the government will not shy away from providing additional benefits if organic farming is carried out by a group of farmers.
He said the objective behind community farming scheme is to involve the farmers to bring fallow land under cultivation and create an atmosphere of unity and brotherhood amongst the farming class. “I appeal to the farmers to avail benefits of the community farming scheme and help the government to take agriculture forward,” he said.
On the introduction of contract farming in the State, Sardesai said the government was scheduled to table a Bill in the Budget Session of the Assembly on contract farming, but the process has been delayed because of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s ill health. “I can assure you the government will enact the Contract Farming Act in the next session of the Goa Legislative Assembly. There’s a model Act on contract farming in place, which requires inter-departmental coordination, especially from the Revenue department,” he added.
The Agriculture Minister said the government is committed to give a big boost to Agriculture in the State and ensures two-fold rise in the income of farmers and agriculturists. “The government is committed to change the outlook of farmers that agriculture is non profitable and is a rural-based activity,” he added.
Vijai vows action against supply of poor quality veggies to horticulture outlets
MARGAO: Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai has promised action against the suppliers after an owner of horticulture outlet brought to his notice the poor quality cauliflower and other vegetables supplied to Horticulture outlets.
Felix Dias, who runs a horticulture outlet for the last seven years drew attention of the Agriculture Minister as well as Agriculture Director Nelson Figueiredo and the Managing Director of Horticultural Corporation over the poor quality of vegetables supplied to these outlets.
Armed with a cauliflower, Felix said he has been running the outlet for the last seven years, but he has never come across poor quality vegetables supplied to these outlets. “This will not only earn a bad name, but people will stop buying vegetables from the horticulture outlets,” he said.
After the Agriculture Minister promised action, a senior Horticultural Corporation official accompanied Felix to his shop for an inspection of the vegetables supplied to his outlet. “I showed him the vegetables supplied to my outlet by the Corporation. My only request for the Corporation is don’t supply vegetables for the hack of it. Even if it costs a little more, supply only quality vegetables,” Felix demanded.
