Vijai says Goan coop farming societies should be sole beneficiaries of agri service sector

The Agriculture Minister further said that community farming will take a big leap in the ensuing Rabi season, beginning with the fields in Fatorda.   

Sardesai along with agriculture officers, Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai, Vice-chairperson Tito Cardozo and councillors descended on the agricultural fields of Agalli in his constituency to flag off harvesting of the Kharif crop as part of his annual exercise of providing free of cost harvesters to farmers in Fatorda.   

“What we have stared today is an annual exercise in providing free harvesting machines to the farmers in Fatorda. Our future plans are to ensure that the harvesting agencies, which comprise the service sector, should come in the hands of the local Goan farming cooperative societies,” he told the media after inaugurating the harvesting machines.   

Admitting that certain practical and logistical issues are plaguing agriculture, he said that a lot of these will be resolved once the service industry comes in the hands of the local farming societies.   

On community farming, he said that Fatorda farmers will benefit from the new concept as the department has planned to construct wells, irrigation facilities, fencing and other facilities by January 1 to ensure that farming is alive and kicking in the constituency. “I expect the zonal agriculture officer to concentrate on community farming so that the benefits percolate down to the farmers,” he added.   

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister visited the area behind the KTC bus stand along with ward councillor Lyndon Pereira to explore the possibility of having a vending zone in the locality. 

“I had asked the councillors in Fatorda constituency to shortlist areas which could be later notified as vending zones. Pereira has identified a piece of land behind the KTC bus stand which will be considered for a vending zone,” he added.