PANJIM: With a target of six percent growth in the agriculture sector in the coming years, the BJP-led government is looking at major reforms in the sector, wherein in one of its kind initiative, it intends to ‘guarantee’ the amount loaned to farmers, irrespective of whether he owns land or not.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, however, raised serious concerns about restrictions in the form of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), forest laws, tenancy act and lease land, which are proving to be major deadlocks in the growth of agriculture in the State.
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Addressing the State Credit Seminar 2018-19 organised by NABARD, Parrikar said, “This financial year it should be around five percent. From a negative growth of around 4 percent in 2011-12 to positive growth of 5 percent and now trying for 6 plus is a big achievement for the State of Goa,” he stated.
The Chief Minister urged bankers to increase their credit ratio for farmers. “I appeal to all the banks to formulate a scheme by which all benefits by way of central government are passed on to the farmers. Government will back up full loan based on the kissan card data and based on individual limit setting. Goan farmers are small and they don’t need big credit,” he stated.
“We have issued kissan card to all farmers even if they are landless. Government is ready to provide backup support for the banks, if they draft the loan schemes for the farmers,” he added.
Parrikar said that if banks come up with a proper loan scheme for the farmers, the State government can deposit up to 15 per cent of the loan amount to the bank as a guarantee. He said that three slabs for the lending limits can be worked out with the highest slab up to Rs 50,000.
The Chief Minister said the government can also deposit the money provided to the farmers in their loan amount so that the financial institutions need not worry about the recovery of the amount loaned.
“Doubling farmers’ income by 2022 has to be in real terms. It is not just figuratively but in real terms as it won’t be an achievement for particular community but also for national growth,” he stated.
Pointing to the report submitted by the Nagpur based agency on fallow land mapping, Parrikar said the State has 13,000 hactares of fallow land, of which even if it brings 10,000 hectares under cultivation, then agriculture can be increased by 50 percent.
He said there are several factors in Goa which are beyond the control of the government, due to which the growth in agriculture has been facing impediment. “The farmers in costal regulation zone are facing difficulties as they need permission from authorities to do anything, except sowing seeds,” he said listing out the difficulties.
Parrikar said farm lands in private forest areas also have to seek permission from the forest department if they have to venture into any allied activities. “But despite this, the farmers in Goa are doing their best,” he commented.
