Goa, the smallest state in India by area, was once predominantly agrarian, with nearly 70% of the population engaged in agriculture as their primary occupation. Over the years, however, the rise of tourism and mining has significantly altered the economic landscape, reducing the prominence of agriculture.
Despite this shift, agriculture continues to be a vital component of the state’s rural socio-economic fabric, sustaining livelihoods and supporting food security.
In recent decades, this sector in Goa has faced mounting challenges. Cultivable land has been steadily shrinking due to rapid urbanisation, industrial expansion, and fragmentation of holdings. Additionally, climate change, irregular rainfall patterns, and increasing input costs including labour have further strained the viability of agricultural livelihoods.
Current agricultural scenario in Goa
Goa has a total geographical area of 3,70,200 hectares, of which 1,43,541 hectares (around 39%) is under cultivation. The crops grown in Goa include:
* Paddy: The staple food crop of the state, paddy occupies the largest cultivated area of 31,519 hectares.
* Cashew: A major horticultural and export-oriented crop, cashew is extensively cultivated as a rain-fed crop on hill slopes, covering about 56,934 hectares.
* Coconut: The second largest horticultural crop in Goa, coconut plantations span 26,683 hectares, playing a vital role in the rural economy and coastal ecology.
* Mango, Arecanut, and Banana: These fruit and plantation crops are widely grown across the state, occupying a combined area of 9,632 hectares.
* Vegetables: Vegetable cultivation spans nearly 8,374 hectares, both on a commercial scale and in home gardens, providing income and nutritional security to many households.
* Other crops: A range of other horticultural and plantation crops such as oil palm, pineapple, pepper, tree spices, kokum, chickoo, papaya, jackfruit, lemons, sugarcane, pulses and groundnut are cultivated over an area of approximately 6,732 hectares.
With shifting trends in agriculture and rising input costs, horticultural crops are gaining prominence due to their better economic returns, lower risk profile, and suitability for part-time and integrated farming systems. The cultivation of high-value fruits and vegetables is increasingly being adopted by progressive farmers in response to market demand and guaranteed procurement by government.
Farming profile
Farming in Goa is predominantly small-scale and fragmented. The average landholding size is less than 1.00 hectare. A majority of farmers in the state are not full-time agriculturists; many are employed in other sectors such as tourism, government services, business enterprises, or operate as entrepreneurs. As a result, agriculture is often pursued as a subsidiary or part-time occupation.
A major challenge faced by the sector is the shortage of skilled farm labour. The migration of the younger workforce to urban areas, overseas and more lucrative non-farm employment has significantly impacted agricultural operations. This trend has led to increased dependence on migrant workers, rising wage costs, and reduced interest among youth in farming activities.
Consequently, a growing number of agricultural fields lie fallow or remain underutilised. This underlines the urgent need for land consolidation, mechanisation support, and youth engagement initiatives to revive and sustain farming as a viable livelihood option.
Key challenges facing agriculture in Goa
Despite several progressive developments in recent years, agriculture in Goa continues to grapple with a range of structural and operational challenges:
1. Fragmentation of land holdings: Nearly 80% of farmers in Goa are marginal, owning less than 1 hectare, while another 10% are smallholders with holdings between 1–2 hectares. These small farms are now further fragmented due to the division of inherited land among family members. Cultivating such fragmented plots is often economically unviable, leading many farmers to abandon or leave land fallow or selling for construction activities.
2. Labour scarcity: Goa is a labour-deficient state. Though mechanisation has reduced dependence on manual labour to some extent, agriculture remains labour-intensive, particularly for crops like paddy and vegetables. Farm labour is scarce and expensive, with much of the workforce being migrant labour from other states. This reliance on external labour and rising wage rates dissuades many from active farming.
3. Low productivity: The productivity of major crops in Goa is below the national average, largely due to:
* High cost of cultivation relative to other states.* Limited adoption of modern technologies and improved practices.* Small and scattered holdings, which restrict mechanization and economies of scale.* Erratic rainfall patterns.
4. Climate change: The impact of climate change is becoming more pronounced, with erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged dry spells, heavy unseasonal rains, and rising temperatures disrupting sowing schedules, yields, and overall crop health. The prolonged rainy season and absence of a well-defined winter season has also affected fruiting patterns in crops like mango, cashew and vegetables.
5. Wildlife menace: In recent years, increased attacks by wild animals such as monkeys, wild boars, and peacocks have caused substantial damage to crops.
Emerging opportunities, positive trends
Despite the ongoing challenges, Goa’s agricultural sector is witnessing several positive shifts and emerging opportunities that indicate a more sustainable and resilient future for farming in the state:
1. Revival of fallow lands: A concerted effort by the Government of Goa is underway to bring fallow lands back under cultivation. Through attractive “Community Farming” scheme and other schemes offering financial assistance and technical support for mechanisation, irrigation, and input subsidies, many previously uncultivated areas are being revived.
Numerous community farming groups have successfully took benefit of this initiative, leading to a resurgence of agriculture in abandoned or underutilised lands.
2. Promotion of organic and natural farming: The State is witnessing a growing trend towards organic and natural farming, driven by both health-conscious consumers and organic farmers. The Directorate of Agriculture, under the centrally sponsored Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) scheme, is actively promoting organic farming practices.
* Several farmer clusters have been established across all talukas, involving a significant number of farmers committed to chemical-free cultivation.* These clusters are supported through capacity-building programs, input subsidies, and soil health initiatives.* Efforts are also underway to certify the organic produce and promote local branding and direct marketing of organic produce, creating niche markets and fetching premium prices for farmers.
Goa's relatively low usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides offers a natural advantage in positioning its produce as authentically organic.
3. ICT in agriculture: The integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into agriculture is emerging as a game-changer in Goa. ICT tools are enhancing farm efficiency, market access, and decision-making for farmers.
Key developments include:
* The use of drones for precise application of water-soluble fertilizers and pesticides, improving coverage while minimising resource use and environmental impact.
* Promotion of mobile-based advisory services and weather forecasts, to help farmers plan their activities better.
* Development of a farmer-friendly mobile app that will facilitate direct sale of produce to consumers, bypassing middlemen and improving profit margins.
These innovations are helping to renew interest in farming, especially among tech-savvy youth, and improving both farm incomes and sustainability.
Goa’s agriculture in next five years
Where will Goa’s agriculture be in the next five years? Here are some key projections and trends for the next five years:
1. Increased mechanisation and custom hiring: With enhanced financial incentives, the use of agricultural machineries and equipment for tasks such as tilling, sowing, irrigation, harvesting and plant protection is expected to significantly boost the production and productivity of the crops. Rising labour costs are likely to drive small and marginal farmers toward greater reliance on government-supported Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) for mechanised operations such as ploughing, transplanting, and harvesting. Additionally, the use of drones for the application of pesticides and nutrients in low-growing crops is expected to become more widespread. These advancements will help reduce dependence on manual labour, lower production costs, and ultimately increase farmers’ profitability.
2. Scaling of organic and natural farming: With growing health consciousness and the influence of tourism, organic and natural farming in Goa is poised for expansion. The traditionally low use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the state gives Goan produce a natural advantage in organic and niche markets. With the right focus on certification, branding, and robust market linkages, Goa has the potential to emerge as a prominent niche producer of organic fruits, spices, vegetables, and traditional rice varieties.
3. Promotion of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs): Establishing Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in every taluka will enhance farmers' bargaining power and enable economies of scale. These organisations will play a key role in the collective procurement of inputs, aggregation of produce, and direct marketing, thereby improving profitability and market access for small and marginal farmers. With continued support from the Government and NABARD, the growth of FPOs is expected to accelerate, particularly in key sectors such as cashew, coconut, mango, banana, paddy, pulses and vegetables.
4. Development of Agro-Tourism and youth involvement: As a leading tourism destination, Goa offers immense potential to integrate agriculture with rural tourism through initiatives such as farm stays, spice plantation tours, biodiversity trails, and traditional culinary experiences. Agro-tourism can serve as a supplementary source of income for farming families while simultaneously promoting rural livelihoods, preserving cultural heritage, and encouraging sustainable land use practices. When combined with attractive incentives and support for youth participation, these ventures can make agriculture more appealing to the younger generation.
5. Sustainable use of khazan land: Khazan lands have traditionally supported the livelihoods of Goan farmers and fishermen through integrated rice and fish cultivation. The Government’s initiative to repair and restore the protective Khazan bunds, combined with attractive incentives, offers a significant opportunity to rejuvenate these productive ecosystems. Effective utilisation of the restored command area through scientific cultivation practices, along with the professional management of bunds and sluice gates by the respective tenants’ associations, will greatly enhance both rice and fish production. Revitalising Khazan lands in this manner will also help conserve Goa’s unique and centuries-old agro-ecological heritage.
6. Modernisation: The government's push towards modernisation of agriculture, through enhanced incentives for advanced irrigation systems and precision farming, is expected to significantly boost production and productivity, particularly in key crops such as coconut, cashew, mango, rice, vegetables and flowers. The dissemination of modern technologies, supported by farmer training programs and improved access to quality seeds and planting material, is likely to result in higher yields and increased farm incomes.
A major milestone in this direction is the upcoming “Centre of Excellence for High-Value Vegetables and Flowers” at the Government Agricultural Farm, Codar, Ponda. Developed with Israeli technologies, this centre is expected to serve as a model hub for advanced cultivation practices, availability of quality seedlings of high value flowers and vegetables value addition, and capacity-building. Once operational, it will play a pivotal role in enhancing the production, quality, and market potential of high-value vegetables and floriculture in the state.
7. Value Addition: The establishment of a “Common Incubation Centre for Post-Harvest Technology” at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) farm in Chinchinim, Salcete, Goa now nearing completion, marks a significant step toward strengthening the agri-value chain in Goa. This facility will enable value addition through processing, packaging, and branding of locally grown fruits and vegetables. By creating new market opportunities and reducing post-harvest losses, it is expected to substantially boost farmers’ incomes while also generating rural employment, especially for women and youth engaged in agri-entrepreneurship.
8. Procurement, assured price: Procurement of vegetables by the Government at a minimum price equivalent to 150% of the cost of cultivation provides a strong incentive for farmers to expand vegetable production with assured profitability. This initiative not only reduces market risks but also encourages crop diversification. Furthermore, offering assured prices for key agricultural produce such as cashew nuts, coconuts, and paddy acts as a vital safety net during periods of market price fluctuations.
9. Goa State Amrit Kall Agricultural Policy 2025: Recognising the evolving challenges in the agricultural sector, the Government of Goa has introduced the Amrit Kall Agricultural Policy 2025, a forward-looking and comprehensive blueprint aimed at modernizing agriculture, promoting diversification, and securing the future of the state’s farmers. If implemented with commitment and purpose, this policy has the potential to bring about a dynamic transformation in Goa’s agricultural landscape over the next five years.
