The Loliem-Polem Village Panchayat (DPR – Status VP-2), Canacona, is ranked at number seven in Goa State in terms of revenue generation and per capital income.
According to Bhushan Prabhugaonkar, Sarpanch of Loliem-Polem Village Panchayat, the total revenue collected is of around Rs 35 lakh and the panchayat can run without the funds from the Government. However, for the all round development of the village, government’s help and funds are the need of hour.
He further said that some years ago this village was a hub for agricultural, horticultural and floriculture. Now the trend has changed and people have migrated to the urban areas in search of better pastures. But there is some hope as recently a section educated youth has started orchids and Poly cultivations in their congenital property both in Poinguinim and Loliem-Polem Village Panchayat, Prabhugaonkar informed.
However, the mass exodus of the educated from the village has left the agricultural land uncultivated. Also those who were cultivating the agricultural land are now aged. They have not, however, given up cultivating their land. Till date they make an attempt to cultivate their fields by hiring labourers who are also a rarity nowadays and those available charge around Rs 600 per day.
Availability of water is the main problem faced by this village said Bhushan. They had put a proposal with the government for two mini dams at Shellim and at Peddem.
He further said that Canacona people at present fully depend on the Chapolim Dam water.
According to Elvis Fernandes, ex-Sarpanch and environmentalist, kidney problems are another factor that forces the people of Loliem to move out of the village. It is reported that about 60 to 70 per cent of the kidney patients admitted in GMC and other parts of Goa are from Canacona.
Keeping this in mind, the government started a Kidney Treatment Centre but it suffers from basic infrastructure.
Loliem and Poiguinim are very famous as agricultural villages. A local farmer Babuso Naik said the Goa government has fixed a support price for the crops that is sold by them to various government purchasing centres. But Babuso says the purchasing price does not meet the cost of the production.
