Team Herald
MARGAO: Lauding the achievements of the youth who had completed courses in Agriculture and Horticulture that were conducted by the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), South Goa, Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik urged the youth and public to take up entrepreneurial initiatives in agriculture.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The Minister’s views were supported by Director of the Directorate of Agriculture Nevil Alphonso who elaborated on the various schemes of the government that can help farmers and those who are in allied businesses too. He urged the youth to become service providers to the farmers.
While the minister appreciated the training programme, conducted for the youth, he appealed to the youth to look at agriculture and the allied sector as a primary occupation for themselves.
The Minister also promised to sponsor one of the youth for an international agriculture study visit and called on the youth to avail of loans that are being offered free of interest upto Rs 1.5 lakh.
Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, the Director of Agriculture said, “The government has been focusing on promoting organic farming and that 10,000 hectares of land is being brought under organic cultivation.”
He added that they are working with 12,000 farmers in fulfilling this goal.
He also urged municipalities and panchayats to take action against illegal migrant vegetable or horticulture vendors who eat into the business of traditional Goan vendors whose livelihood depends on the sale of the produce their families cultivate in their respective villages.
