Team Herald
Ponda: One of the fallouts from the ongoing lockdown is how farmers across Goa have been affected. One such case is the 375-odd farmers from Marcaim who fear that this period will result in their vast khazan lands turning fallow.
Pointing out that their seasonal activities of ploughing, tilting and land preparations have been delayed, they have also lamented that the agriciculture department has not provided them with the necessary equipment and machinery as well.
On Thursday, senior farmers Saju Naik , Santosh Naik along with many others called on the government to support them to help them given that they are a traditional occupation.
“If they provide machinery, then we don’t require manpower. We are ready to pay for this and have even deposited money with the department but there are no signs of these tractors,” they added. They also noted that the Marcaim farming community is in distress as their financial condition is weak. Presently, they haven’t been able to commence the seasonal activities.
On another note, they also spoke about how the lockdown has not allowed them to protect their fields from their fields from the menace of stray cattle, animals that are destroying their crops. The farmers, thus also demanded that the government assist them in the construction of fences, repairing bhandars and also providing them with seeds and fertilizers. “The government should give us quality seeds so that we can reap a bumper crop,” added Saju Naik.
Meanwhile, sources at the Ponda’s Agriculture Department conceded that COVID-19 has slowed down their work. They said they are willing to cooperate with the farmers and that their work will commence from April 15. Further, due to COVID-19 and the lockdown, the dept is also facing a shortage of fuel and needs the government’s directions to carry out work.
