------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------- State would witness planting of around 1 lakh orchids, anthuriums to be planted by March'04 -------------------------------------------------------------------- The Chief Secretary, Mr D S Negi said that the state would witness planting of around 1 lakh orchids and anthuriums by March 2004 and observed that government would shift from its current mind-set as well as the use of existing technology, for promotion of horticulture and floriculture.
Mr Negi who earlier inaugurated the 6th Plant Utsav at Garcia de Orta Garden, in the city, organised by the Botanical Society of Goa (BSG), in collaboration with the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), Directorate of Agriculture and the Department of Science, Technology and Environment (DSTE), further observed that though tourism formed the backbone of Goa's economy, one cannot depend on it throughout the year.
"The government and the people have to diversify in other fields for income, and high input as well as high output of agricultural produce could be one solution," he suggested, adding that Goa has the most congenial conditions for such activities.
The Chief Secretary also maintained that the sales of local agricultural produce have increased since setting up of the Krishi Ghars in the state. "The future will witness large quantity of vegetables cultivated in Goa," he claimed.
Mr Negi also acknowledged the active and constructive participation of the non-government organisations in the Goan agricultural sector.
The DSTE director, Dr N P S Varde, who was the guest of honour on the occasion said that the time has come to re-discover our traditional agricultural techniques and implement them in modern times.
He lamented that the introduction of irrigation techniques have made the agriculturists ignore age-old water collection systems such as water harvesting and watershed management.
He also bemoaned that the practice of organic gardening, use of traditional manure and custom of integrated pest management were replaced by frequent utilisation of modern fertilisers and pesticides.
Dr Varde pointed out that the festival of plants would be instrumental in providing information about ornamental horticulture, vegetable cultivation, bouquet making and Bonsai, among other things.
The president of Botanical Society of Goa, Dr H Y Karapurkar, in his welcome address spoke about the society and its activities. He also hoped that the visitors to the festival would be able to obtain information about the plants and other agricultural aspects, including the government project of green house for orchids and anthuriums.
The Mayor of CCP, Mr Ashok Naik and the director of the Directorate of Agriculture, Mr Ramesh Joshi were also present on the occasion. Mr Minguel Braganza introduced the guests, while the organising secretary of Plant Utsav, Dr K G Hiremath proposed the vote of thanks
The three-day event will exhibit a shade-net house containing the flowering anthuriums and orchids, and a life-sized functional 'Krishi Ghar' with vegetables, flavoured milk and other produce.
The women's entrepreneurs group and women from various Self-Help Groups
(SHGs) from the watershed areas of Canacona, Sanguem and Sattari talukas
selling vegetables, chilies and spices grown on hilly areas are also participating
in the event.
The competitions in potted plants and vegetable carving and entertainment programmes during the evenings are other highlights of the Plant Utsav.
Around 10 nurseries have set up their stalls at the festival including Florance
Flora from Bangalore, Mr Farmer, Vikas Nursery, Garden Glory Florist,
Kakoda Farms, Dande's Nursery, Viraj Nursery, Nisarg Gardens and so on.
The other attraction of the Plant Utsav is the display of medicinal plants cultivated by Raj Bhavan and National Institute of Oceanography (NIO). ---------------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 29/11/03 page 5 ----------------------------------------------------
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