MARGAO: The Directorate of Agriculture organised the ‘Millet Festival’ to promote cultivation and healthy living through millets at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. It was inaugurated by Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik.
Agriculture Director Nevil Alphonso said the Millet festival aimed at creating awareness about the production and consumption of millets, highlighting their nutritional benefits, and diverse applications in our daily lives. The festival featured a series of talks and demonstrations on various aspects of millet cultivation, the nutritive value of millets in our diet, parameters, and licensing requirements for millet-based foods, and the preparation of value-added products using millets. A highlight of the event was the eagerly-awaited millet recipe competition, where participants showcase their culinary skills and creativity with millet-based dishes.
Minister Naik commented on the State Agriculture Policy being formulated presently. “Suggestions and objections were invited from the panchayats, we have also received the recommendations from agricultural experts on what they believe should be important provisions in the policy. If there is a demand for ban on sale of village land by panchayats, it will also be included. Necessary care is being taken to prevent salt water from entering the fields,” said Naik.
Goa’s outstanding farmers to be awarded at Liberation Day programme
MARGAO: The Directorate of Agriculture has announced the names of the farmers that won the State Agricultural Awards 2023 under various categories.
The awardees will be felicitated on December 19 at the Goa Liberation Day function that will be held at the Goa University grounds in Taleigao.
Hemant P Samant, from Conxem, Nirankal in Ponda, will receive the prestigious ‘Krishi Ratna’ award. This year the prestigious ‘Krishi Vibhushan’ award will be shared between two farmers, Mahesh Jaisingrao Rane, from Khorlim, Mapusa and Mahesh Narayan Gaunker, from Thatodi in Dharbandora. The prestigious ‘Krishi Bhushan’ award will be given to Dayanand Armin Fat Dessai, from Dessaiwada, Pirla, in Quepem. Finally, the Special Agriculture Award namely, the Fr lnacio Almeida Annual award for Organic Farming will be given to Krishna Anand Sinari Gaonkar from Ambeshi wada, Amona in Sanquelim.
