TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The State government on Monday introduced the Goa Agricultural Tenancy (Amendment) Bill 2014 for developing and using agricultural land through contract farming.
Revenue Minister Francis D’Souza who moved the amendment sought to insert a new section 4A to the Act so as to introduce the concept of contract farming in a bid to avoid fertile land from remaining fallow. “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of the Act, any person may, by an agreement entered into in writing, with the landlord or an owner of the land and duly registered with the Sub-registrar of the Taluka within whose jurisdiction such land is situated, cultivated or undertake and carry out any agricultural operations upon, such land,” the bill reads.
Under the act, the land would be leased out to the tenants, through an agreement and he has to cultivate it personally. Following this the landlord would not be entitled to claim any benefits, which a tenant would be entitled to.
“The tenant immediately upon entering into an agreement informs the directorate of agriculture about the details of such land and agricultural operations being carried out or proposed to be carried out by him on such land,” provisions of the bill read.
The Bill also seeks to confer the Mamlatdar powers related to disposing of tenancy cases, identifying tenants, immediate recovery of land to tenants, evicted from the land on or after the July 1, 1962, tenant/ landlord dispute and other issues, upon the Court of Senior Civil Judge. Similarly, the appellate and revisional powers of Collector in the said matters and the powers of the Administrative Tribunal under this Act are sought to be conferred upon the District Court.
The Joint Mamlatdars have been granted powers to exercise the powers of the Mamlatdar and take action or act upon the cases.
