CANACONA
Even as the State government has had consultation sessions with stakeholders for its new agriculture policy, farmers in Canacona are cautious about the new policy amid declining farming activity in the takuka.
There are over 3,300 farmers registered as farmers with the agriculture department and less than 1,800 farmers are enrolled under the Prime Minister Kisan Yojna.
While one farming state awardee in Canacona said he sees no change in the new agriculture policy in comparison to the existing one, a farming activist gave a series of suggestions to be included in the new agriculture policy.
“I see no difference in the new agriculture policy and it is old wine in a new bottle,” said Prasad Velip, a state farmer awardee.
“While framing or preparing the new agricultural policy, the government should take every precaution not to expose any agriculturists into debt traps. The policy should not only facilitate farmers, but interests of all agriculturists, especially their investments, should be protected.”
“Dairy, which is part of agriculture, finds no mention in the new agriculture policy. There is no provision to cover farms/cultivations on weather based crop insurance. Compensation provided under Shetkar Adhar Nidhi is insignificant and does not cover expenses incurred by a farmer before any natural calamities damage the crop.”
“The subsidy, which has been reduced from 90% to 50%, should be reinstated, and there is a need to revive the old rates based on which subsidies are calculated as the costs have increased manifold.”
“The new agriculture policy should make provisions to allow farmers to buy their equipment and machinery from outside Goa, as it is cheaper in other states. For example, a tractor trolley which costs Rs 2.5 lakh in Goa, is available at Rs 1.7 lakh in Kolhapur,” Velip said.
Dudh Udhpadak Society Chairman and former president of Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Madoor Sangh Babu Komarpant has put forth many suggestions to make the new agriculture policy more beneficial to farmers.
“Farmers should get proper price for their crops and all other produce so that farmers never go into losses. Wild animals like bison, wild boar, peacocks, porcupines and monkeys damage crops and the government should immediately grant compensation after conducting a panchanama. The government should also make provision to provide arms licences to farmers to enable them protect their crops from wild animals.”
“The government should also ensure traditional access to paddy fields are not blocked and arrangements for roads, proper pathways for tractors, harvesters, etc. into the fields. Water for irrigation from dams should be ensured as a right of farmers on time and need basis.”
In a bid to encourage the new generation to take farming as an occupation, Komarpant has also demanded the introduction of courses like Bachelor of Vocation (Agriculture).
Some other farmers have demanded a farmer-oriented agriculture policy to ensure that farmers, agriculturists, horticulturists do not suffer financial losses.
Horticulturist Sanjay Komarpant highlighted his own experience of suffering grave financial losses due to mismanagement of the polyhouse scheme (orchid cultivation) by the agriculture department.
There has been a gradual decline in farming activity across Canacona taluka, from 10,253 hectares in 1987 to about 9,000 hectares in 2011.
According to the Zonal Agriculture Office, an area of slightly over 9,000 hectares is under agriculture cultivation. This includes 1800 Ha under Kharif paddy and Rabi paddy (about 40 Ha). Canacona also grows vegetables in an area of 250 Ha during Kharif and 350 Ha in the Rabi season.
Other agriculture activities include cashew plantations (3500 Ha), coconut plantations (1800 Ha), Sugarcane (60 Ha), Banana plantation (150 Ha), mango (500 Ha), arecanut (90 Ha), alsando (5 Ha), black pepper which is mostly grown as an inter crop in coconut and areca nut plantations (50 Ha), pineapple (15 Ha), turmeric (4 Ha), orchids (4 Ha) and other garden crops (500 Ha).
