VASCO
As part of the Economic Revival Plan (ERP) for the State, the Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) has demanded a full-fledged Zonal Agricultural Office (ZAO) for Mormugao taluka so that agriculture will get a boost and farmers from the taluka will be able to access seeds, manure and machinery from the Directorate of Agriculture.
GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins wrote to the Director of Agriculture Nevil Alphonso stating it was the right time to set up a full-fledged ZAO for Mormugao taluka as the State Government was working on an ERP to tackle new realities emerging due to the impact of the Covid pandemic on the State. He said agriculture is seen as an important sector in this ERP.
“Farmers from Mormugao taluka are struggling to procure manure/compost and machinery and also face difficulties in selling their produce. They are forced to purchase manure by spending from their pockets to travel to Margao for the same. If the government provides manure, they could cultivate more vegetables and affected farmers can also take up paddy cultivation if the government provides necessary help in the next season," said Martins.
Martins said queries by GOACAN had revealed that for the last three decades, agricultural programmes, schemes etc. of the Directorate of Agriculture for Mormugao taluka have been managed by the ZAO Salcete, which is based in Margao.
“It is indeed surprising to note that while the newly established Dharbandora taluka has a separate ZAO, Mormugao, one of the oldest talukas of Goa, still has a caretaker ZAO located at Margao.”
"The Director of Agriculture will not face any hurdles to set up the ZAO as the South Goa Member of Parliament, the local MLAs, ZP members, Mormugao Municipal Council and the nine village panchayats of the taluka will fully support the decision as their constituents only stand to gain from this project,” said Martins.
Copies of the GOACAN letter have been sent to the chief secretary, agriculture secretary, South Goa collector, directors of panchayats, municipal administration, food & drug administration, civil supplies & consumer affairs and the chief general manager (Goa regional office) NABARD.
