PONDA: The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) has put forth a four-point charter of demands to the Goa government, urging the immediate restarting of the Sanjivani Sugar Factory, a halt to agricultural land conversions, the implementation of revised milk procurement rates, and the effective execution of the State’s ‘Amritkaal’ Agriculture Policy.
Addressing a press conference in Ponda, K Sayareddy, All-India President of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, outlined the critical challenges facing Goa’s agricultural sector. He was accompanied by Dada Lad (All-India Head of the Gopalan Aayam and Pad-ma Shri awardee), Sanjeev Kunko-lienkar (BKS Goa State President), Shrirang Jambhale (Goa State Gener-al Secretary) and Audumbar Shinde (State Publicity Chief).
The BKS strongly demanded that the Sanjivani Cooperative Sugar Factory, which has remained closed since 2019, be revived without further delay. Pointing to the booming market and high demand for bio fuel, the Sangh stated that the gov ernment should immediately clear the pending administrative hurdles to commence ethanol production at the facility. Reviving the plant would provide immense economic relief to local sugarcane cultivators and en-courage farmers across the State to scale up production.
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The association also called for the immediate implementation of increased procurement rates for dairy
farmers. Due to a steep rise in cattle feed and maintenance costs, running dairy operations at the older rates has become financially unviable. Following persistent agitations and follow-ups by the BKS, the State government had previously approved a price hike of Rs 6 per litre for cow’s milk and Rs 10 per litre for buffalo’s milk. Although the Chief Minister made a formal announcement regarding the hike, the revised rates have not yet been rolled out on the ground. The BKS demanded that the government implement the approved rates immediately to support struggling dairy farmers.
Expressing deep concern over changing demographics and shifting land-use patterns, the BKS demanded an absolute halt to the illegal conversion of agricultural and orchard lands across Goa. The Sangh noted that it remains highly vigilant on the matter and has already submitted multiple representations to various local authorities. The BKS urged the government to strictly enforce existing land-use laws, halt ongoing violations, and take legal steps to revert illegally converted plots back to their original agricultural status.
Lastly, the BKS criticised the sluggish rollout of the State’s flagship ‘Amritkaal Agriculture Policy. The Sangh stated that the policy does not appear to be moving at the expect-ed pace and appealed to the Directorate of Agriculture and the State government to fast-track the launch of its designated schemes and pro-grammes so that benefits can finally reach grassroots farmers.
