Team Herald
PANJIM: With the aim of doubling the income of farmers by 2022, Agriculture Minister Chandrakant Kavelkar said the Central government has allotted Rs 50 crore towards organic farming initiatives in the State.
Kavlekar, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, stated that the State government is aiming at providing organic certificates for the produce of 13,000 farmers in Goa.
He further pointed out that the Central government in its Budget had proposed to create 10,000 organic farming clusters Pan India under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and that Goa is taking forward this mission in the State. For which, the Agriculture Department is aiming at creating 1,000 organic farming clusters and bringing 10,000 hectares of land under organic farming.
He pointed out that they are already developing 500 clusters and efforts are on to identify land for the next 500 clusters
A department meeting was held in this regard, chaired by Kavlekar, who added that they want to make Goa an organic State.
“The Chief Minister is supporting this initiative,” said Kavlekar.
He added that more such meetings will be held to also expand the market for such organic products and that they are seeking inputs of agencies.
On the issue of the Sanjivani Sugar Factory, the DY CM informed that the department has taken on board the Pune based Deccan Sugar Technologist Association as a consultant, to assess if ethanol production at the plant can be more profitable than the existing sugar production.
At a separate meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister met with BJP MLAs and the party’s Minority Cell leaders to resolve issues with Bardez kabrastan land.
He also spoke to the Bardez Muslim Jannat Association on other issues related to the Muslim community.
