MARGAO: Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir (GFPK), a NGO working for the welfare of farmers in Goa, organised two awareness meetings in South Goa on Sunday on the draft Goa agriculture policy, which here held in the villages of Camorlim and Chicalim. Local farmers, concerned village panchayat members and experts attended the meet in large numbers.
It may be recalled that GFPK had presented their suggestions on the Goa agriculture policy to the Agriculture Department, which consisted of 12 chapters and 105 points that address different facets of farming in the State.
At these two meetings, Jack Mascarenhas, President of GFPK, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the salient features of Agriculture at both the meetings. He explained how the policy should aim to promote sustainable and profitable agriculture, enhance food security, protect natural resources, and empower farmers. The meetings
also witnessed lively discussions and feedback from the participants.
At the first meeting in Carmolim, Sarpanch Basilio Fernandes and his panch members raised issues such as tenanted land with no clear title to avail farming benefits, formation of new farmers clubs, and krishi cards. GFPK member Amancio Fernandes, a retired deputy director of agriculture, suggested some solutions to these issues. He also listed out some of the key points that GFPK had demanded be included in the final Agriculture policy.
For instance, the formation of farmers club in each village and link the same with panchayat, then having fast track courts to clean title and tenanted land, having storage facility for agriculture produce and that Goan Non-Resident Indians (NRI) should form an association, which can fund agri-processing units, and other aid for farmers.
Later on at Chicalim, GFPK member Carmelito Andrade, a certified drone pilot, gave an overview of how technology can be used in farming like GIS mapping, early disease detection, spraying organic fertilizer and pesticide. He also mentioned that it is important to include traditional knowledge and have a balanced mix with technology. He cited the example of Saudi Arabia, which despite being a desert, is using technology in farming to become a net exporter of wheat.
The meeting at Chicalim also saw a lot of participation from youth farmers, who expressed their concern and suggestions for the future of agriculture in Goa. They stressed on the need to protect khazan land and to build bandhs on time. They also expressed their desire to protect agricultural land for their posterity and to make agriculture a sustainable profession by using new technology like drone technology.
GFPK thanked the participants for their valuable inputs and assured them that they would incorporate them in the final submission and also appealed to other farmers and stakeholders to join them in their efforts to make Goa a model State for agriculture.