PONDA: The turn out at the special gram sabha was very low in most of the panchayats in Ponda taluka where agriculture is a major activity. The few farmers present blamed the panchayat for the low attendance saying that people were not informed that Agriculture Policy was to be discussed.
At Madkai gram sabha where only two farmers were present, they said agriculture is a complex issue.
Premanand Gaude, a member of the Bar Amre Khajan Farmers Committee said farmers were not aware that agriculture policy was being discussed at the gram sabha.
He said the main problems faced by farmers from the village was the breaching of the bandhs. He added that the government delay in compensating farmers discourages farmers from protecting their land from natural disasters. He said farmers are also compelled to go from pillar to post to redress their problems.
He said, government should make necessary arrangements that farmers go to a single window where all their problems are solved.
At Kundaim where again there were only two farmers present, the farmers asked the government to strengthen the panchayat to deal with farmers’ problems.
Vijesh Naik of Chikhal Paine Khajan Farmers Association suggested that the government set up an Agriculture Development Fund through which panchayats will be able to provide financial relief to farmers adversely affected by natural calamities and also to repair bandhs when they are breached.
He pointed that for the last five years farmers have not been able to cultivate their fields which are flooded due to breached bandhs.
He also asked that Krishi Cards be provided to farmers promptly instead of the long delays taken now.
He asserted that the low participation in the gram sabha was because the panchayat failed to inform the villagers that agriculture policy would be discussed.
At Veling-Priol-Cuncoliem gram sabha, the villagers demanded protection of their crops from wild animals and human predators eyeing their agriculture lands for settlement purpose.
At Mardol, the farmers demanded that government declare Jayo cultivation as a traditional occupation and give them adequate protection.
At Kavlem too very few villagers were present for the gram sabha where such an important matter was to be discussed. Jayesh Kavlekar, VDC convenor said farmers’ inputs to prepare the policy was important and hence suggested that the panchayat convene another gram sabha to discuss the agriculture policy.