Agriculture, especially paddy cultivation is one of the most important occupations in Canacona taluka. Seasonal vegetables, cashew nuts and fruits are also widely grown but the farmers lack a scientific approach towards agriculture. Most farmers cultivate their crop for their own consumption; hence, the concept of commercial farming has still not permeated through the minds of most.
Traditional farmer and former chairperson of the Canacona Farmers co-operative society, Vithobha Gaonkar noted that 90% of ST communities fully depend on paddy cultivation (whether rabi or kharif) as it is the main diet. However, finding labour for a few days in the year is expensive and growing just rice cannot feed a family today.
A paddy transplantation machine was introduced at Devbhag two years ago by a team led by Farmers Training Centre, Ela-Farm (Old-Goa) under the guidance of Agriculture Officers and others.
Shivram Gaonkar, Zonal Agricultural Officer from Canacona tries his best to impart modern techniques of farming into the populous by conducting camps are different panchayats with the help of the sarpanch. There is however, a shortage of tractors and other machinery.
The demonstration got an instant reaction from the farmer who noted that it would be a lot more beneficial to replace the workers who demand Rs 350 to Rs 400 per day to carry out similar work in the fields.
“The cost of the machine is about Rs 5 or 6 lakhs. Individual farmers get a 50% benefit, while farmers from the ST community get a 70% benefit to purchase such equipment,” mentioned Gaonkar. He added that the machine requires a vast expanse which very few farmers have.
“Bifurcation of the main agricultural land by the Konkan Railways is also one of the reasons for stopping paddy cultivation in municipality areas,” said Mahesh Velip, from Gulem.
