Staff Reporter
Panaji
The state government on Tuesday unveiled the Goa State Amrit Kaal Agriculture Policy 2025, which proposes establishment of Farmer Welfare Fund Board and Goa State Coconut, Cashew and Mango Development Boards apart from initiating steps to encourage youth to undertake agriculture.
The policy also proposes to ban the conversion of all fields designated as rice, morad, kher and khazans. Land belonging to comunidade, temples, churches and societies will be considered for granting subsidy, according to
the policy. Addressing the media, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said vision of the policy is ten years. He said the policy has been drafted keeping in mind the national goals and global commitments.
Sawant said the agriculture policy will focus on creating an ecosystem that supports farmer welfare, ensures fair labour conditions and empowers the youth to engage in agricultural activity in view of the declining manpower in agriculture.
Sawant said new Goa Farmers Welfare Act would be enacted to provide guaranteed livelihood security and to incorporate sustainable practices. He said the government’s procedures for farmers would be simplified. Sawant warned that release of sewage in agricultural land or water bodies will lead to penalisation by the Goa State Pollution Control Board.
The policy proposes establishment of Farmer Welfare Fund Board to address the welfare needs of farmers primarily engaged in agriculture. It also proposes creation of a special distressed farmers’ welfare fund.
The policy focusses on managing water resources carefully by using water efficiently and conserving it through methods like rainwater harvesting and restoring traditional water systems. The policy also lays stress on strengthening farmer collectives (mutual cooperation), enhancing access to markets, credit, insurance, diversifying income through value addition and agro-tourism, minimising the cost of production and increasing the quantity and quality of agricultural produce.
Sawant said organic and natural farming will be encouraged through the agriculture policy. He said facilities like financial grants for setting up infrastructure, land lease subsidies, tax exemptions and fast-track approvals would be provided for vertical farming.
The policy focusses on key areas like renewable energy in agriculture and agricultural start-ups and innovations and supports urban agriculture undertaken by using modern methods like hydroponics, aeroponics and aquaponics.
Farmer information centres will be set up at strategic locations across the state apart from organising skill development programmes for farm workers, the policy states. It also stresses on minimising human-wildlife conflicts.
