PANJIM: Expressing concern over the fast changing climatic conditions and frequent droughts, heavy rains etc leading to drastic fall in food production globally, Mr Pratapsing Rane, the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, has said that serious attempts should be made to raise agriculture production in the state to meet any eventuality.
Mr Rane said that the agriculture production as well as milk production in the state was very low and was not sufficient to meet our daily requirement and as such serious efforts should be made to increase production of both and become self-reliant.
The Speaker further said that increase in the production of agriculture produce would lead to a fall in prices of the essential food items, thus providing relief to the consumers. He said that the food prices have been frequently rising in view of short supply.
He further said that more agricultural land could be brought under cultivation by the farmers by taking benefit of various government schemes like subsidised seeds, subsidies on farm machinery, etc. Increase in agriculture production would also help us in doing away with the dependency on imports from neighbouring states, he added.
The Speaker said that he has called for a meeting of the legislators, farmers, agriculturists, milk producers, bank officials and all others connected with agriculture and allied activities, to discuss the issue of promotion of agriculture and milk production. The meet will be held on March 15 at the Goa International Centre.
The meeting has been convened just a day ahead of the assembly session, which begins on March 16, and the findings at the meeting could become handy to the government in taking an appropriate decision on agriculture promotion. It may be recalled that legislators have been demanding such a meeting in order to discuss the agricultural scenario in the state. Mr Rane said that issues relating to the problems faced by the farmers, the steps that the government could take to further promote agricultural activities, the roles that the financial institutions could adopt, etc would be discussed during the meeting.
How can we increase agricultural production when land is purposely destroyed for building projects. take for example the paddy fields opposite the Quepem cemetary especially adjacent to and where a service station ( washing motorbikes,carsand trucks ) has come. This used to be lush paddy fields belonging to the Deao given to people to cultivate paddy but look at the present state of these fields. Waiting for the right builder and price with the Quepem Municipal Council licking their chops.
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