It is learnt that in Ponda taluka the area under paddy cultivation for both rabi and kharif season is reportedly on the decline and has dropped by a whopping 63 percent in the past ten years.
The reason for the decline is said to be shortage of labourers, high cost of production and commercialization of the cultivable land according to experts.
This is not the case only in Ponda but throughout the state of Goa. Many Goans have sold their fields to builders and have settled abroad. The youth of Goa are reluctant to till the land.
There is no proper guidance to would-be famers to increase the crop yield by using the modern technique. What comes as good news is that the central government is ready to establish an agriculture and horticulture University in Goa.
From ploughing to harvesting, everything can be done with the help of machines as it reduces the cost of production.
Darshana Pednekar a Goan woman farmer and entrepreneur who is growing 35 varieties of crops, runs a poultry farm and also processes coconut oil was recently felicitated by the union minister.
The agriculture and horticulture university also needs to have floriculture as a stream.
