The St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar should be congratulated for taking the initiative of reviving khazan farms. He organised sessions in panchayats on November 27 by involving officials of the Mamlatdar's Office. This constructive cooperation between the elected representatives and the administration will go a long way in helping farmers. It is a sad story that today the khazan lands are being inundated in the lust for prawns and fish farming. There was a time when the khazans were used for pisciculture as well as agriculture. I recall there were local breed of rice amenable to brackish waters. But today what we see is criminal neglect of the farmlands. The Tenant Associations at times carry out breaches to the protective bandhs and inundate the farms. This has led to farms becoming saline and rendering them useless for cultivation. The Goa government which gives heavy subsidies to Tenant Associations must make it mandatory to them to also encourage farming.
