Team Herald
PORVORIM: Stating that 17 hectares of land have come under the cultivation of poly houses, Agriculture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said it is one of the department’s efforts to attract youth to agriculture.
Tawadkar informed the Legislative Assembly that at present flowers and roses are exported to Bangalore and Hyderabad and chilies to Belgaum.
“Last two years 200-300 well qualified youth have diverted to agriculture, this is a big achievement,” Tawadkar said. He said that almost 80 percent of paddy cultivation is mechanized and there is an increase of 50 percent production. He said there is an overall increase of 40 percent in agriculture production.
“So far we have got 18 of 60 schemes online, we will try to make all schemes online by December to boost the farming sector,” he said and added that 28,900 farmers have availed benefits of the ‘Krishi Cards’.
The minister said there is an increase in milk production of 78% since 2012. He said it was 30,000 litres earlier whereas it has increased to 64,000 litres at present and that the government is providing a subsidy of Rs 9.40 per litre to dairy farmers.
He informed the House that the Coconut Board will be formed soon and that the draft has been prepared after research and visits to various states known for coconut cultivation.
