Tenants have stopped paddy cultivation and fields are left fallow for years. Govt subsidy is costly in comparison to local market prices and quality is substandard. Subsidy for wells have not solved water problems. Crop insurance is loaded heavily against agriculturist and has been non starter.
Dependence on total labour from start to finish is not economic and migrant labour is making outlandish demands of refreshments as part of service conditions, besides the labour costs in Goa are exorbitant. Harvesters and subsidy have made it bearable and so too are subsidies on fertilizers and seeds.
Paddy cultivation if accounts are maintained and if the harvest is good, it rarely breaks even.
The publicity and glamour will not entice cultivators of paddy after initial hype. In fact cash crops may be less labour intensive, with quick returns and are more profitable. Proper irrigation system could provide motivation. The dependence on vegetables, fruits, etc from outside the borders is an indication. Our people are not willing to soil their hands with manual labour. Floriculture could be attractive, bee-keeping, pisciculture are other options. How are paddy fields being allowed to be converted into orchards even with strict provisions?
