1.2 lakh sq metres of land taken up for cultivation
TEAM HERALD
PONDA: In a move that will delight environmentalists, agricultural land spread across 1.2 lakh sq metres is now being taken up for cultivation after a gap of almost 14 years in the mining belt of Dharbandora.
During the heyday of mining operations, farmers in Dharbandora had practically turned their back to farming activity owing to better income from mining and allied businesses. But with the suspension of mining activities, the revenue has dried up and farmers are now reviving farming activity in the vast fields at Shirval-Culna.
“Agricultural land was uncultivated only because mining business had brought in fast money as against agricultural produce. There are couple of mines in the locality but I don’t think the fertility of the land was affected due to the mining dust,” said Dharbandnora Sarpanch Guru Gaonkar, who spearheaded the idea to revive agriculture in the village.
“Zonal Agriculture Officer Shivdas Gaonkar helped us to motivate the farmers and most importantly the mining firm, Sesa Goa and Goa Mineral Foundation which financially supported the activity,” he added.
The sarpanch informed that at present, about 90% of the land has already been sowed and remaining will be completed within a few days.
According to information, necessary equipment, including a power tiller, tractor, fertilizer and even seeds were supplied by the mining firms.
“The land is in good condition and presently, about 1.1 lakh sq mtes have been taken up for cultivation using traditional method and about 10,000 sq mtrs under the SRI method. With the efforts from Dharbandora Sapranch Gaonkar and the Zonal agriculture office, we motivated about 150 farmers,” Zonal Agriculture Officer Gaonkar told Herald.
“To prevent wild animals from destroying the crops, I have advised farmers to form a Shetkari Sanghatana and to apply for solar fencing scheme around the entire area. There is a 90% subsidy under the State government scheme,” said the ZAO.
Gaonkar said there are also plans to cultivate another crop after the paddy cultivation. “After the paddy crop, we intend to cultivate pulses so that throughout the year the land is under cultivation. We are looking at adequate arrangements that can be made for irrigation after the rainy season. Our efforts will be to identify uncultivated agricultural lands and motivate farmers to restart farming activity,” he said.
