PORVORIM: The State’s total area under cultivation has declined by over 12,600 hectares (Ha) in last five years, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant informed the State Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
In a written reply tabled in the House, Sawant said the estimated area under cultivation in the year 2012-13 was 1,62,505 Ha , however, the same came down to 1,49,848 Ha in 2018-19. “During the same period, the paddy cultivation also declined from 1,80,754 tonnes to 1,48, 273 tonnes,” Sawant said.
Congress MLA Ravi Naik had tabled the question on the agricultural growth in the State.
Sawant said in a bid to boost cultivation, efforts are on to make areas, which constitute fallow land into productivity by bringing them under the scope of agricultural cultivation. “Emphasis is laid on mechanised farming, which will help in reducing the cost of labour,” he said.
He said to double the farmers’ income by 2022 the crops with maximum potential with Goa’s perspective are identified.
Chief Minister said the focus is on productivity enhancement of paddy, pulses, groundnut, sugarcane, vegetable, cashewnut, coconut, mango and oil palm through awareness and motivation by adopting proper cost of cultivation.
Sawant said the department is working to enhancing farmers’ income through value addition and branding concept. “Farmers should produce organic manures at their farms and use it in their farms so that cost of cultivation can reduced and organic farming approach is adopted,” he added.
