It was a small step and looking back there is still a long way to go. The rising price of lemons and other vegetables is making it imperative that Goa starts increasing its vegetable production the quickest possible. In October last year there had also been the statement by the Union Minister of State for Agriculture that the Centre will work with the State to make Goa self-sufficient in the next three years, that Goa is self-sufficient in milk, but the target is vegetables also. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant too has been speaking of making Goa self-sufficient. It is just six months since the Union Minister’s statement, so there is still time to make it happen, but there is now a hurry to get it done.
There have been success stories in agriculture, and villages like Netravali, Verlem have increased productivity of vegetables, milk and fruits like strawberries by employing modern techniques in the field. Netravali for instance saw increased milk production within six months from 2000 litres per day to 3500 litres. Besides milk, Netravali also saw an increase in various other farm produce, including chillies, lady fingers, cluster beans and others, not leaving out strawberries that are now being cultivated in Goa. This pilot project in the village was under a central programme that aims at reducing the dependency of villages for food supply and to increase agricultural productivity in the State. If the successes in these villages can be applied to others and if there are farmers ready to put in that extra effort to make agriculture work, it could show a positive change in the agricultural productivity in the State.
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In a way, what the COVID circus and the early lockdowns during the pandemic showed Goa was that it has the potential to return to agriculture and actually turn it into a viable economic activity. When other sectors closed during the lockdown and many did lose their livelihoods or saw downturns in their enterprises, they turned to the land and began cultivating it. It showed positive results encouraging others to follow suit. Yet, being pragmatic, it is clear that Goa cannot grow all vegetables or even the quantities that are required for consumption. But, there are certain vegetables that it can produce but still procures from other States. It is these vegetables and fruits that Goa has to concentrate on. The aim should be not just being self-sufficient, but also supplying to other States, for that is what will bring the farmers profits and encourage them to increase production.
Having crossed the 60 years of Liberation milestone, Goa is looking back to its traditional occupations to become self sufficient. It has achieved a few successes but there is a long way ahead before it can claim self sufficiency in agriculture. It can happen if the government manages to keep the energy levels of its staff involved with the Swayampurna Goem programme high. Success depends on government agencies and the people working together. A year after the Swayampurna Goem programme was initiated, statistics had shown that there had been a 40 per cent increase in horticulture production, six per cent in floriculture and 10 per cent in dairy production. It requires a lot more efforts before Goa can become self-sufficient and trim down its procurement of vegetables from the neighbouring States. That dependency for essentials has to be reduced. It cannot be completely ended, but dependency can definitely be substantially brought down.
