Panaji: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) has sought urgent relief and long-term measures for farmers whose paddy crops have been devastated by incessant, unseasonal rainfall across several talukas, including Salcete, Shiroda, and Aldona.
In a letter to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, GFP chief Vijai Sardesai expressed deep concern over the widespread destruction of ready-to-harvest paddy.
Citing meteorological assessments, Sardesai said a stationary depression over the central and eastern Arabian Sea, compounded by additional low-pressure systems, has triggered strong convection and persistent showers in Goa. The result, he noted, has been severe waterlogging, crop lodging, and premature sprouting, leaving large quantities of paddy unfit for human consumption and causing heavy financial losses.
“The torrential downpour has come at a critical stage of harvest and has destroyed weeks of hard work for our farmers. They need immediate assistance, not endless surveys and paperwork,” Sardesai stated in his letter.
The GFP has urged the Chief Minister to direct the Revenue and Agriculture Departments to conduct joint surveys to assess the extent of crop damage and expedite compensation through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Sardesai also pointed out that up to 10% of SDRF funds can be used for such local disasters even if they are not officially declared by the Centre. He stressed that compensation should be disbursed directly to farmers through benefit transfers, without bureaucratic delays.
Calling for long-term reforms, the GFP chief said the situation underscores the urgent need to strengthen Goa’s agricultural policy and climate preparedness. “This crisis must serve as a wake-up call for the government to implement structural reforms that will make our agriculture resilient to changing weather patterns,” he said.
He recommended measures such as investment in field drainage and water management infrastructure, promotion of soil and water conservation through mulching and contour bunding, and the strengthening of real-time weather forecasting and farmer advisories. Sardesai also called for expansion of watershed development, micro-irrigation, check dams, and afforestation under PMKSY and related schemes, as well as research into climate-resilient and short-duration paddy varieties. He further emphasised the need for post-harvest infrastructure like drying yards and storage facilities, along with wider enrolment under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
“The combined approach of emergency compensation, infrastructure improvement, and climate adaptation is vital to protect our farmers today and safeguard Goa’s agricultural future against the growing threat of climate change,” Sardesai said.
