Team Herald

MARGAO: Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai has decided to strengthen and increase the scope of the farmer support schemes and funds in the backdrop of the Canacona flood causing loss to farmers. 

Taking proactive measures, the minister said, that he had directed that the Agriculture Department to survey the Canacona flood damage and release monetary compensation at the earliest.

“With Diwali at hand, we are concerned about Canaconkars. Therefore, the government has done an assessment of the damage to the crops in Canacona. Our party (Goa Forward) alongwith the agriculture department has done a detailed assessment of the loss due to unseasonal rains,” Vijai said.

He informed that according to the assessment of the agriculture department, 155 farmers have suffered crop and infrastructure loss.

“Shetkari Aadhar Nidhi can’t compensate the infrastructure loss like pump house, bandharas and others. But I have spoken to the chief minister and he has advised me to take all the sectors under the Agriculture scheme umbrella and provide relief to the farmers,” the Minister said. 

“We will move a proposal soon for the release of compensation,” he informed.  

According to the minister the crop damage has been mostly rice, banana, arecanut, pineapple and others in the villages of Nadkem, Kuskem, Yeda, Marli, Tirval and Cotigao.

The minister informed that he would speak to the WRD minister on repairing the damaged bandharas and water cannels.