PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said all eligible farmers who applied for relief following crop losses due to unseasonal rains have been compensated under the Shetkari Aadhar Nidhi scheme.
Speaking at a meet in Sanquelim to disburse Rs 3.68 crore to nearly 3,950 beneficiaries, the chief minister said funds have already been credited to several accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), with the remaining payments to be completed by Monday.
The disbursement, initially scheduled for December, was delayed due to the election Code of Conduct.
“Even if not 100 per cent, the government has ensured that at least 50 per cent of the losses incurred by farmers have been compensated,” Sawant said, adding that not a single eligible farmer has been left out.
He said Zonal Agriculture Officers conducted field inspections for all applicants.
“Our officers visited the fields and surveyed 100 per cent of the applications to ensure genuine farmers receive relief,” he said, adding that around 1,200 farmers without Krishi Cards were also covered so that documentation does not become a barrier for assistance.
Calling for a shift from fragmented individual farming to collective cultivation, Sawant said village-level farming alone cannot ensure sustainability.
“Village-level farming cannot achieve much. Community farming is the solution,” he said, citing pilot projects in Kudnem, Amona and Surla in the Sanquelim constituency as successful models.
He said the government has invested Rs 41 crore in the construction and repair of bandhs to protect agricultural land.
“Infrastructure support is essential if farming is to remain viable in Goa,” said the chief minister, directing district panchayats and agriculture officials to extend full cooperation to farmers.
Urging diversification, Sawant said farmers must move beyond traditional paddy cultivation, especially during the winter season.
“Farmers should adopt cash crops that give better returns,” he said, pointing to incentives of Rs 20,000 per hectare for fodder cultivation, with assured procurement for the dairy sector. He also highlighted crops such as turmeric and cowpeas (alsande), noting that alsande can fetch up to Rs 400 per kilo in the market.
Emphasising collective marketing, he said farmers must use Farmers Producer Organisations for packing and branding so that Goan produce reaches wider markets.
Highlighting financial security measures, Sawant said farmers can now avail loans of up to Rs 5 lakh without any security under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, which he termed part of Modi’s guarantee. He also referred to the PM-Kisan scheme that provides Rs 6,000 annually.
“In other States, we hear of farmer suicides, but in Goa, our schemes are designed to ensure such a thought never enters our farmers’ minds,” Sawant said.
