Agriculture in Goa needs a paradigm shift

Nothing can define the act of farming or agriculture better than this proverb and that precisely should be the question the people of Goa, the politicians and the State government should be asking. What are we sowing that we expect better crops for future generations to survive? 

Humanity is dependent on agriculture and farming activity, and as we all know, each of us may need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, etc, once in a lifetime, but you need a farmer every day, three times a day. 

There is a growing concern amongst Goans that despite being primarily dependent on agriculture for centuries, post-Liberation Goa has witnessed a declining trend in farming activities. Thanks to the real estate boom and demand for the scarce land in Goa, the area under cultivation has dwindled and mega-project development activities have taken the lead. 

Goa which is known for cashew and mango plantations is facing a steep fall in this year’s harvest. Goan farmers are facing hardship as the overall yields of cashews and mangoes have comparatively declined by 50% this year. 

Year after year, there have been concerns about paddy farming and due to the economic burden, many farmers have stopped cultivating their lands. Either due to the unseasonal rainfall damaging their crops or the labour-intensive activity unable to attract locals, has led to a steep decline in agricultural activity. 

On the other hand, farmers like Dashrath Madgaonkar from Guirim, who for the past 10 years, has cultivated vegetables on his 2,700 sq metre plot, demonstrating exceptional land utilisation by growing 30 different types of crops, including vegetables, fruits and useful plants. Dashrath at the age of 68, is both a rickshaw driver and a farmer. He has now been cultivating paddy for more than 50 years and attributes his love for farming to his parents.

During the ongoing Assembly session, MLAs across party lines raised serious concerns over the survival of age-old khazan farming in the wake of the breach of bandhs, growth of mangroves over bandhs and lack of funds with the Agriculture Department, to repair them. The Chief Minister agreed to form a khazan Board. He also announced the constitution of an expert committee by consulting scientists from the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and assured to draw up a concrete solution within six months.

Earlier this year, the drafting committee of the Goa State Agriculture Policy, 2024, submitted the policy to the government on March 7. A policy has been in the making for more than a decade with the first committee constituted for the purpose in August 2012, under a former South Goa MP, who resigned after being elected to Lok Sabha in April 2014. After nearly a decade of a hiatus, the committee was reconstituted the last year in May, involving stakeholders and experts to ensure a farmer-centric and participative policy-making process. Public suggestions were invited on July 14, 2023, with the deadline extended until September 17, 2023. The committee was granted an extension until March 31, 2024, to conclude the process. 

Agriculture which has been unproductive and unsustainable due to high cost of labour has to use modern agricultural tools and machinery. Besides the general policy, an agriculture policy should be framed for every village with a focus on its peculiarities in agriculture such as chilies in Canacona, strawberries in Sanguem, brinjals in Taleigao, bananas in Moira, watermelons in Parra, seven rigged ladyfingers in Jua, avocados in some villages, etc. 

In addition, cash crops such as exotic fruits and vegetables should also be promoted as done by Edward Mendes of Raia. The former computer engineer has transformed Raicho Ambo (Manora) Raia into a vast apple cultivation area by leasing land and planting over 200 apple trees, perhaps the largest apple plantation in Goa.

Agriculture and farming need an overhaul with government support and an action plan to use the latest techniques in the sector. Apart from that, as a policy matter, agriculture should be taught in schools with marks allotted for the syllabus. And wherever possible, schools should have land reserved for the purpose. Additionally, the government should teach, encourage and finance professions such as sericulture, mushroom culture, pisciculture, etc.

As the Indian agricultural activist, Vandana Shiva said, “Sustainable agriculture is not just about growing crops, it's about caring for the soil, the water, the air, and all the living things that depend on them.”