Team Herald
PONDA: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the “increasing dependency” of Goans on neighbouring States for food items such as rice, vegetables, milk, fruits and even flowers.
Asserting that Goa is a leading State as far as infrastructure development is concerned, he said that he is concerned over Goans keeping agricultural land fallow. This, he said, is increasing the dependency of Goans on neighbouring States for food items such as rice, vegetables, milk, fruits and even flowers.
The chief minister was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for Velim Priol Cuncolim Panchayat.
On the occasion, he appealed to the Goans, including those having secure jobs, to switch over to the much ignored agricultural activities.
“I feel ashamed to tell that once upon a time we were leading in this traditional activity, but today we almost ignore it. If we can’t produce food in our own land, we can’t say we have achieved development. Therefore, the panchayats should play a major role in encouraging agriculture,” he said.
Others present on the occasion were Panchayat and Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, Veling Priol Sarpanch Laxmikant Khedekar and government officials and villagers.
The chief minister further said that the per capita income of Goans would increase if, besides being service, they could take up agriculture, horticulture, floriculture and dairy farming.
Appealing to the village representatives to encourage their youth to take up agriculture, Sawant said, “Goa’s vast agricultural land can meet the need of rice, vegetables, fruits. For this, the farmers need encouragement. There are lot of government schemes for them in Goa and the panchas and sarpanchas have to play a major role for development of village and agricultural.”
He assured that major infrastructure works such as government buildings, widening of highways and building bridges from Canacona to Pernem including Mopa Airport will be completed by 2022.
