MARGAO: Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik on Saturday said the Directorate of Agriculture is all set to set up two separate coconut and mango corporations with a year.
Addressing media persons on the sidelines of ‘Flora Fest’ at Margao, he said there is urgent need to reduce the conversion of land and focus on bringing more land under cultivation.
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Taking into consideration the large areas and demand from the farmers the Minister said a separate Zonal Agriculture Office for the Mormugao taluka will be set up within a month.
“The Department has already initiated the process of constituting the two separate corporations for coconut and mango so that maximum boost is given to the concerned farmers. All the formalities, including the procedure of constituting the two corporations will be completed within three-four months and their actual functioning will commence within a year,” Naik said.
He said the department has taken serious note of the load and hardship faced by the farmers and hence the long pending demand of a separate ZAO for Mormugao taluka will be fulfilled within one month.
“The new ZAO office for Mormugao taluka will start very soon. The Department is ready to provide all the required facilities to the farmers,” the Minister said.
Earlier, addressing the gathering during the inaugural function of the ‘Flora Fest’, a grand nursery mela at the BPS Club, Margao, he expressed concern for the conversion of agricultural land.
“We need to reduce the conversion of agricultural land and focus on bringing all the agricultural land under cultivation. We need to promote agriculture in Goa,” he said.
The Agriculture Minister said a new scheme to provide boost to farmers with regards to planting flower and fruit-bearing plants will be implemented in the coming days.
“There is good demand for flowers and fruits in Goa, however, with no required production we are forced to import even flowers from the neighbouring States. This new scheme will help the people to take a step forward pertaining to growing flowers and fruit-bearing trees,” said Naik.
Appreciating the efforts of BPS Club and Rotary Club Margao for initiating the ‘Flora fest’, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said the organisers have chosen the right time, as the country is celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
“There is a need to reach out to the people with the new inventions in the field of agriculture and the Agriculture Department should take initiative in this regard,” he said.
Lyndon Pereira, Margao Municipal Council (MMC) chairperson, Nevil Alphonso, Director of Agriculture, Deep Karapurkar and other dignitaries were also present.
