Merwyn says that farming is for those with little or no education......... how little does he know ! Farming today is becoming hi-tech. The agricultural bounty produced on US and Canadian farms today are by the new generation of tech savy famers who depend on the internet to decide what and when to sow their crops, and sometimes what crops to grow depending on market conditions (price trends). These farmers are linked to Agricultural Extension officials, who provide invaluable guidance.
If everyone is educated, as the trend is nowadays, and nobody goes into farming, all we will grow is concrete jungles. What will we eat - Concrete ?? Goa is yet to catch up with the rest of the world and with the tech savy farmers of Punjab here in India. Unfortunately the agricultural model in Goa is designed for farmers with small plots where the entire family is involved in growing and harvesting their crops for the coming year. With the dearth of labor, and the aging of the old-time farmers increasingly our fields here in Goa are going fallow. Unless someone with vision allows the consolidation of fields by corporates or farmers with the means to bring in large agricultural combine machinery to mechanize our farming, and harvest the crops, we will continue to see a decline in Goa's agriculture. Behind my residence in Goa is a large field, with sections (shirs) owned by at least 30 odd owners, none of who cultivate the fields. I would have loved to purchase a field to grow my own rice and vegetables. Since I am not an Indian national, I am prohibited by law from owning agricultural property. This is another obstacle in developing India's vast agricultural potential. Again this is myopic vision by India's political leaders. Someone has to grow food to feed the rest of us. Growing crops on small plots of land is no longer financially viable. A complete re-look and re-vamp of India's Agricultural policies are the need of the hour. And yes, we need educated farmers. linked to the world wide web, to discern weather patterns,and who can get their soil tested to decide what fertilizer nutrients need to be added to the soil to maximize their output. In short we need a new Green revolution. From my armchair - An American "bhatcar" in Goa.
