Team Herald

MARGAO: Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardessai disclosed plans to promote agriculture tourism in the State that would tap on the rich natural heritage of the State particularly in the hinterland where tourism could be marketed through agriculture.

Speaking to media persons after inaugurating an 8-day agriculture summer camp, he said he was trying to develop his own property for agriculture tourism and said just like shacks on beaches there could be shacks in fields selling natural agriculture products.

“In my property where the children will be growing crops, I propose to set up a stall for the women of Fatorda to sell their produce,” he said.

Director of Agriculture Madhav Kelkar inaugurated the 8-day camp where 105 students from different schools of Fatorda constituency aged below 16 years are being taught various things about agriculture including grafting, vermi composting and even mushroom cultivation through practicals.

“The urban children have lost touch with agricultural soil and this is my attempt to keep them in touch with the soil that feeds them,” Vijai said and added that the best students at the camp will be appointed brand ambassadors for the Agriculture Department to promote agriculture so that the around 20,000 hectares of land in Goa that is uncultivated will be brought under cultivation.