RAIA: Pedru Colaco, a farmer from Raia is one of the thousands of farmers staring into nothingness, their dreams buried in the very fields they cultivate to bring food to our tables.
They start each season with the hope that the fruit of their hard labour, their corps would fetch them a minimum support price from the government so that their costs of cultivation, at the very least are covered.
Each year, the number of farmers, like Pedru Colaco, who are denied this basic support to allow them to buy machinery clear dues to their labour and prepare for the next crop, is increasing.
Figures show that the number of farmers who are getting their subsidy dies cleared is shrinking by about 2000 each year.
Colaco told O Heraldo, “The support price towards paddy cultivation of the latest crop is still pending. An early release of amount will help in taking up more cultivation. We face major hardships when there is a delay in releasing the subsidy.”
Greg Fernandes from Verna lamented, “There are several farmers from Verna who are still waiting for support price towards paddy cultivation. The process followed by the Department is a lengthy one, resulting in disappointment among the farmers.”
There are more than 50 schemes where subsidies and support are given to farmers of which the minimum support price is one of them. But there is an overall absence of data on the amounts pending and the number of hapless beneficiaries who are still waiting for different subsidies to come through, like the purchase of machinery and tractors, subsidy for seeds etc.
The delay in releasing the subsidy amount has resulted in big disappointment leading to many farmers deciding not to continue with farming activities shortly.
As informed by the farmers across the Salcete taluka, hundreds of farmers are still waiting for the subsidy amount including support price.
The discontent among farmers is rooted in the belief that the current subsidy amount provided by the government falls short of meeting their expanding needs and adding to that delay in releasing the amount had added more problems.
According to farmers, the escalating costs associated with farming, spanning from ploughing the fields to the final harvest, have risen significantly over time.
To address the financial challenges they face, farmers assert the necessity of raising subsidies to more realistic levels that align with the contemporary economic landscape of agriculture.
The crux of the issue lies in the delayed disbursement of subsidies that are crucial for supporting and sustaining the farming community.
Rosario Fernandes, a dedicated farmer from Salcete, has raised a crucial issue regarding the timely release of subsidies in agriculture. Farmers like Fernandes emphasise that these subsidies the demand for timely subsidy disbursement and increased subsidies is not merely a plea for individual welfare but a vital aspect linked to the overall sustainability of agriculture in the region.
“Subsidies play a pivotal role in bolstering the agricultural sector and maintaining its economic viability,” he said.
Speaking to O Heraldo, J Santano Rodrigues, the head of Curtorim’s Biodiversity Committee, expressed anger over the government delaying the release of subsidy amount.
“Farmers not only from Salcete, but across Goa are struggling hard to move ahead with the farming activities due to no timely support from the government. That say is not far away when the farmers will end up stopping cultivating their land,” he said.
He also suspected the government didn’t have the funds to release the subsidy amount.
Higher officials have instructed not to provide details of pending subsidies: Zonal Agriculture Office, Salcete
Rajesh Desai, District Agricultural officer says data not compiled on pending subsidies
MARGAO: Government offices including the Zonal Agricultural office are trying to hide the figures of the claims and citing reasons that higher officials have instructed not to disclose any details of the pending claims before the media.
After stonewalling O Heraldo several times, one officer blurted out “higher officials have instructed not to provide such details”.
Meanwhile, Rajesh Desai District agricultural officer simply said data wasn’t compiled when O Heraldo is aware of the up-to-date data of subsidies not disbursed (‘denied’ as far as farmers are concerned) is ready at hand.
O Heraldo tried reaching the Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, but to no avail. This story will be updated online when the Minster responds