Shoma Patnaik
Panaji: Goa’s cool winter months are turning out to be a godsend for vegetable cultivation in the state with the Goa State Horticulture Corporation (GSHC) expecting another strong growth in veggie production this year from the 38% increase seen in 2023-24.
On Tuesday, managing director of GSHC Chandrahas K Desai said that more farmers in Cansaulim, Davorlim, Netravali and Vadde in Sanguem as well as in Bardez taluka have enthusiastically opted to cultivate vegetables in the ongoing winter season.
“The trend has made the state self-sufficient in locally grown lady’s finger, cluster beans, brinjal, ivy gourd (tendli) and green chillies this month,” he said. Desai said GSHC’s purchases of these vegetables from Belagavi have stopped presently due to ample procurement from state farmers.
“In 2023-24, there were 1,187 Goan farmers who supplied vegetables to the Corporation outlets. This year, until December 31, 2024, it is 1,035 farmers which is expected to increase to 1,200 farmers, going by the applications pending with us,” he said.
In the year 2023-24, the GSHC procured 1,509 tonnes of local vegetables as compared to 1,091 tonnes from 1,115 farmers in 2022-23. It shelled out Rs 5.94 crore in 2023-24 for the procurement (Rs 4.33 crore in 2022-23).
This year, so far, 1,134 tonnes of vegetables have been procured at a cost of Rs 4.61 crore.
The government’s policy of giving assured market to the locally grown vegetables at pre-determined rates has encouraged farmers to take to vegetable farming, according to GSHC officials. They said the Goan farmers worry when it comes to marketing their vegetables. With the government offering to buy their entire production, they are now relieved.
“Farmers receive the payment within 25 days. The payment is hassle-free and credited directly to the bank account,” explained Desai. He believes that there is more enthusiasm now among farmers in the state for growing vegetables than paddy.
Goa is 80% dependent on vegetables coming in from the neighbouring states. The role of GSHC in the vegetable trade is to provide vegetables to the residents at rates lower than the market prices by purchasing from Belagavi and reselling at subsidised rates through its outlets.
The purchases of locally grown vegetables are usually done during the months of December-April. During the remaining months, the Corporation goes back to buying from outside the state.
“Vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, tomato and even strawberries, which geographically are not suited to Goa, are grown locally in the winter months. They cannot, however, be sold through the GSHC outlets due to unavailability of bulk quantities,” said Desai.
The GSHC’s procurement from Goan farmers comprises 25 vegetables including
jackfruit, banana flower, elephant foot yam, drumsticks, sweet potato among others.
