For the past eight months, more than 50 dairy farm ers across Goa have been facing significant financial losses as the State government’s Kamdhenu Scheme — aimed at boosting dairy farming — remains stalled due to delays in finalising an insurance tie-up. The bureaucratic bottle neck has prevented the release of cattle since February 2025, leaving several farmers burdened with loans and feed wastage. Farmer Prasad Velip from Can acona said the delay has severely impacted many who had already in vested in infrastructure and fodder. “We were expecting the second batch of five cows in February, but nothing has moved. I had pre pared several hectares of land for green fodder, but most of it has gone to waste. This is not just my problem. Almost 50 to 60 dairy farmers are facing similar losses across Goa,” Velip said.
Inacio Fernandes from Sanguem shared that many farm ers had taken loans — both from banks and private lend ers—but have been unable to generate income due to the scheme’s suspension. “We are paying EMIs without earn ing anything. To pay one loan, we have taken another. It’s becoming unbearable,” Fernandes said. In Rivona, Pracaxa Gaokar said the failure to sanction the second batch of cattle has only worsened their situation. “We have written to officers from the Minister’s office to the Secretariat, but nothing has changed. Feeding even the existing cows has become difficult,” he said. When contacted, Director of Animal Husbandry and Vet erinary Services (AHVS), Nitin Naik, confirmed that the de lay was due to administrative issues linked to the insurance process. “The insurance tie-up was delayed due to adminis trative reasons. However, by this evening the final approval will be given so that from tomorrow farmers’ files can be processed,” Naik assured. Under the Kamdhenu Scheme, farmers receive cattle in batches, with government subsidies and insurance cov erage. But since February, no new cattle have been sanc tioned, leaving many projects incomplete and farmers stranded mid-way. Even as Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant continues to urge youth to pursue agriculture and dairy farming, affect ed farmers argue that such bureaucratic delays undermine genuine agricultural initiatives.“The government talks about empowering farmers, but this kind of delay in a sim ple process like insurance approval is disheartening,” said Velip.
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While the government has now promised to resolve the issue, farmers across Goa are anxiously waiting for long-pending files to move, hoping for some respite from the growing financial pressure.
