Obviously every field is a vote bank. South Goa MLA’s andother politicians have realised that a show of love for agriculture can give them a harvestof votes
South Goa politicians are going all out to woo voters byproviding free mechanized harvesters to farmers in their respectiveconstituencies as well as by bearing the diesel cost.
While the South Zonal Agriculture Office provides Rs 1000diesel subsidy to every farmer to run a mechanized harvestor, Curtorim MLAReginaldo Lourenco and Nuvem MLA Miccky Pacheco control the entire harvestorbusiness in South Goa.
Out of the 35 mechanised harvestors available to South Goa,Reginaldo alone owns ten. Out of these 10, three of harvestors are registeredthrough his multiple farmer’s societies, namely Curtorim Co-operative Society,Original Goan’s ST Association and Raia Farmers Association ST.
The other seven is owned by him through his close aideRamesh Naik in Salcette viz Modern farmers Association.
Not far behind is Reginaldo’s arch-rival Domnic Gaonkar whocontested the Assembly polls against him from Curtorim. Domnic who is a STleader owns five harvestors through his Raia Shetkari Sangathana.
“I have always promoted agriculture and ready to do anythingfor farmers in Goa. My machines are available to all farmers from Pernem toAssolna with special preference to Curtorim’s farmers since almost 70% ofCurtorim is still dependent on agriculture,” a vocal Curtorim MLA said.
Not to be left behind Mickky Pacheco owns five machines andbrings one on hire from Karnataka during the season of harvest. Mickky lets outthese mechanized units through his Nuvem Sal Krishi Saunstha run by his closeaide and ZP member Wilfred D’Sa nicknamed Babashan.
“We make no profit from our harvestors but in fact pay renton bringing additional machines from Karnataka. But all this is done only topromote agriculture and help the farmers in the village,” Babashan said.
“These mechanized harvestors cost Rs 26 lakh and harvestaround 4,000 sq meters of paddy fields per hour. These machines are allotted bythe ZAO although they are registered under various farmers clubs. The troublehappens when respective MLAs interfere in the allotment of machines,” saidZonal Agriculture Officer, Sandeep Phaldessai.
There have been instances wherein Reginaldo has gone all theway to Dhargalim and brought back his machines from Babu Azgaonkar’s formerconstituency of Dhargalim, while Mickky has refused to release his harvestorsto Churchill Alemao or Aleixo Sequeira’s supporters.
“We have had such a huge demand for harvestors this yearsince Quepem MLA, Babu Kavlekar, Navelim MLA, Avertano Furtado and Velim MLA,Benjamin D’Silva has provided free harvestors by footing the diesel cost. Wehad to rent more machines from Karnataka to meet the demand,” said SalcetteModern Farmers Association, President, Ramesh Naik
Not far behind from Reginaldo and Mickky are new entrantsAlina Saldanha and St Andre MLA, Vishnu Wagh. While Wagh is seen daily breakingcoconuts and posing for pictures handing over the harvestors to residents ofhis constituency, Alina has been providing harvestors stationed at herCansaulim home.
“I am all for providing assistance to farmers in myconstituency since it was Matanhy’s dream to see that all fallow land should becultivated,” she defended.
Joining the race to provide harvestors to farmers isChurchill Alemao’s Charitable trust providing free machines to reap the crop inSanguem, Benaulim, Cavelossim and Cuncolim trying to woo voters once again inareas where the family was drubbed in the last polls.
Nazario Pinto who hopes to contest on a BJP ticket incaseBenaulim MLA, Caitu Silva gets disqualified has also joined the race ofproviding free harvestor in Varca, Benaulim, Orlim, Carmona and Cavelossimareas.
