Team Herald
MARGAO: Goa will have its footprints on the agricultural map of India shortly, according to Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Babu Kavlekar.
He pointed out that the first-of-its kind Organic Agricultural University for Western India has been planned for Goa.
Explaining that he has been pursuing and planning this since taking over as the State’s Agriculture Minister, he said the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had in principle, agreed to the project, at a meeting held at the CM’s residence.
Kavlekar had recently visited the Pune Agriculture College, which is affiliated to Pune University and also the Rahuri Agriculture University. He announced that Dr Madangopal Varshaneya (Director, IRDE and Ex Vice Chancellor of Anand University Gujarat and Kamdhenu University) who helped set up Anand University in Gujarat when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the then CM of Gujarat, has been appointed as Chief Strategist for this project. Dr Varshaneya was also the Dean of Rahuri University and has over 35 years of exposure in agriculture.
“Although Goa is seen as a tourist State, I am keen to tap on the majority of Goa’s inland, which has predominantly agricultural base, and develop it as a model of advanced organic agricultural practices. This will boost Goa’s rural economy that is already suffering due to the closure of mining in the State” he said.
“Also, this new initiative will help the young generation of Goa to pursue agriculture as a career defining industry. Setting up an Organic Agricultural University will help locals to study techniques of productivity increase, quality control and research and development in the field of organic farming,” the Quepem MLA added.
“It will also boost allied industries like processing and packaging and all together it will help Goan economy and improve job prospects. This University will become a milestone in Goan agriculture. Currently we have identified some areas required for this project and short listing will begin shortly along with other legal procedures. I would expect my farming fraternity to come forward and help us in pursuing the dream of leaving Goa’s footprints on agricultural map of India,” Kavlekar added.
