In pursuit of promoting Goa as an organic State under the Central Government’s scheme, it is learnt that the Goa government has formed 40 village-level clusters, comprising 900 farmers from Salcete and Mormugao taluka which will encompass 200 hectares of agricultural land with organic certification.
Farmers must be certified for their produce and products to be labelled “organic”. The farmers are expected to fetch better prices for organically certified products.
The government aims to set up as many as 500 organic clusters in Goa. This will give a big boost for organic farming in the state.
Under the scheme, in three years the central government intends to create 10,000 clusters covering five lakh acres under organic farming.
Organic farming is a technique that involves the cultivation in natural ways. The process involves the use of biological materials, avoiding synthetic substances to maintain soil fertility and ecological balance thereby minimizing pollution and wastage.
No pesticides are used in organic farming as compared to conventional agriculture. It reduces soil erosion and recycles animal waste back into the farm.
It must be said that greater environmental awareness, coupled with concerns over the health impacts of pesticide residues and consumption of genetically modified (GMO) crops, fostered the growth of the organic sector.
