CANACONA: “Only 49 hectares of agricultural land is under ‘Vaigan’ farming in Canacona while 2520 hectares of land is under Kharif cultivation. Rabi farming is on major decline in the taluka which is a great matter of concern,” said a local farmer Narayan Velip. He drew the attention towards the fact that despite the Agriculture Department’s various schemes, the trend to leave vaigan lands barren is rising.
Presently vaigan farming is practiced in Chiplem, Devbaag, Velwada and Kharegal in Canacona taluka. Every year WRD blocks water on Gajibaga and Mashem rivers but is not used for irrigation or vaingan farming.
There are 3763 Kisan Card holders and 1600 Pradhan Mantri card holders in the taluka.
“In Kharif season, 17 hectares of land is cultivated with machinery. Around 3500 hectares in the taluka is under cashew plantations, 150 hectares under coconut cultivation, 60 hectares under sugarcane farming, 150 hectares under banana plantations, 500 hectares under mango orchards and 50 hectares under betel nuts productions,” said divisional agriculture officer Nagesh Komarpant.
