NT Reporter
Panaji
The state government has revised the financial assistance under the Sheti Samrudhi Yojana to facilitate community-level action for the growth of agriculture among farmers belonging to the scheduled tribe community.
According to a notification issued by the Directorate of Tribal Welfare, the scheme will provide financial assistance to registered societies to support community-level initiatives aimed at improving food security, reducing poverty and ensuring sustainable management of natural resources.
The assistance will also support the preparation of conservation management plans for community forest resources under the scheme.
Tribal farmers’ co-operative societies registered under the Goa Co-operative Societies Act, 2001, and non-governmental organisations registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, are eligible to apply for the scheme. As per the rules, each society must have at least 50 per cent of its members belonging to the scheduled tribe community.
The government said
the tribal population in Goa is predominantly dependent on agriculture
for its livelihood. Nearly 70 per cent of the tribal population lives in remote villages and depends on agriculture and marginal forest produce. Agricultural growth, therefore, is expected to drive broad-based economic development while ensuring food security, poverty alleviation and conservation of forest and natural resources.
The government document said there is a need to mobilise the best of science and development efforts, including traditional knowledge and modern scientific approaches, through partnerships involving national and international research institutions, NGOs, farmers’ organisations and the private sector to address present and future challenges of food security and production. It said small and marginal farmers among the tribal population, who mostly work in groups, can collectively cultivate land to increase efficiency per acre.
The document further said farmers must also be provided with agricultural extension services such as inputs, market information, processing units, farm machinery and modern techniques.
It also highlighted the importance of crop rotation of paddy with vegetables and pulses using organic fertilisers, along with diversification into allied agricultural activities such as dairy, vermi-composting and honeybee keeping.
