Agriculture has been the main occupation of our ancestors. However, farming in Goa has slipped into passive mode with focus on more lucrative and less strenuous occupations like tourism, mining, construction, besides service sector. Some of the Goa’s main cash crops are cashew, coconut and spices. Alsane, tambdi bhaji, bhendi, mancurad mango, khola chillies and the like are unique to Goa and some have acquired Geographical Indication. Goa heavily depends on neighbouring States for meetings its requirements of vegetables, dairy products, meat and even fish. The demand for fish in Goa is so high that it needs to get it from other States. Substantial fish catch of Goa goes to export market to fetch good foreign exchange. Many absentee landlords leave their lands fallow rather than leasing out to cultivators for fear of not getting their land back. Institutional loans, coupled with benefits under state schemes, would give the much needed liquidity to farmers to tap full potential of agriculture. Goan youth are very much interested to take up agriculture, but proper agro skilling, orientation, infrastructure and handholding is required. Proper marketing and processing will surely help Goan farmers.
