Agricultural Policy revisited The tenancy Act did not usher in desired agricultural revolution.The economics of cultivation with scarce and costly labour sounded a death knell. Large tracts of land were kept fallow.The cheap rice distributed through fair price shops and changed food habits reduced dependency on costly local variety of rice Cattle menance , dry irrigation canals and bundhs for retaining water were abandoned.Goa imported cheap rice from neighbouring States to cater to rice consuming populace The building loby underguise of farm houses converted fertile land at will with tacit support for monumental benefits.The traditional crop rotation for pulses. Chillies, vegetables . onions, sweet potatoes, watermelons , maize took a back seat The cumbersome , time consuming policies of subsidies on seeds , fertilizers , pesticides , harvesters , tractors ,fencing , product did not enthuse farmers.The vagaries of uncertain nature with crop insurance were loaded heavily against farmers..The facilities for local milling became scarce .The efforts at Mechanised farming with Govt machinery was too inadequate and tied in knots at required moment. The field converssions are potential outlets for flood regulations , as they also serve to drain and are catchment areas for excess water.The idle irrigation canals built at enormous costs must be charged immediately to facilitate timely plantation.The officials must descend on the field, poto document and release subsidies to the cultivators instead of insisting on ownership proofs .There is need to introduce high yielding ,resistant varieties , establish farmers markets, build storage facilities and even extend loans at subsidised interest rates to displace grip of sharks money lenders . Agricultural Policy must encompass animal husbandry , horticulture, floricuture, aviary to make it attractive and remuneration.Agriculture. need to be treated on par with industry as it is the farmer who feeds all.The world over Agriculture is heavily subsidized to feed any progressive Nation. THE most popular coconut is selling at a distress price and so too copra or oil.The cajunuts are imported on a large scale and palmed off as local variety.Mango the famous fruit of Goa is also on decline with products flooding the market from all over India.The potential for floricuture with demands on the rise is a neglected issue.The potentials for watermelons, groundnuts is enormous to be tapped Agricultural Policy gets step motherly treatment as imported vegetables are flooding the outlets The food requirement of Goa must be a high priority even though Goa increasingly is scene as residential , retirement paradise supported by the climate,social ambience and religious harmony.The recent trend of collective' mechanised economic farming is an attractive proposition and Govt Policy must latch on to this movement extending quickly the intended subsidies without procedural and beauracratic hurdles. There seems to be hope on the horizon with private initiatives gaining moment Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
Nelson Lopes Chinchinim https://lopesnelsonnat.wordpress.com Nelson Lopes Chinchinim https://lopesnelsonnat.wordpress.com