Team herald
PANJIM: It’s getting hotter on the chilli scene. After last year’s bumper harvest, which led to export of the produce at dirt cheap prices, the agriculture department of Goa is now looking for new vistas in the Gulf region to reap a fortune.
State Agriculture Minister, Ramesh Tawadkar, said this year two more varieties of chillies were cultivated and the department is looking for a three-fold production than last year.
“As a result, we are looking for a tie-up with one of the chilli exporters from Maharashtra and hoping to find a route to the Gulf region, so that the farmers can rake in the moolah,” Tawadkar said.
Chilli production in Goa is just a year-old initiative and it turned out to a be a “bumper” crop. Areas like Sanguem, Sattari, Quepem and Canacona are fertile and suitable for chilli cultivation, whereas chillies of Cancona are famous in Goa.
Tawadkar said the department is also launching an awareness programme to reach out to all farmers of the state to know their requirement as per their cultivable land. The programme will start from October 15. In a day, 15 officers of the department will try and cover at least 3500 farmers in 40 odd villages.
The officers will collect data and within 10 to 15 days, the same will be uploaded so that the department gets a clear picture of the farmers’ needs.
“We have to reach out to every farmer and learn about their needs and look for solution and make things better,” Tawadkar said.
