Increase in budget outlay unlikely to revive agriculture in State

Increase in budget outlay unlikely to revive agriculture in State
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, APRIL 10
Will the State Government able to resurrect declining agriculture by mere increase in budget outplay for the farm sector? Admitting that agriculture is passing through a difficult phase — this budget, the government has increased budget provision from the present 2 per cent of the total outlay to 4 per cent.
A provision of Rs 46.22 crore has been made for agriculture alone for 2010-11 as compared to Rs 18.62 crore for 2009-10. While the government has realised that agriculture sector is not in good shape, it is yet to look at the problem seriously. The production and productivity in most crops have remained static.
According to government’s own admission there has been a shortfall in targeted area coverage and production. About 36.36 per cent of area is covered under agriculture in the State. Of the total cropped area of 165953 hectares, paddy constitute 59979 hectares (36.14 per cent ) whereas 101147 (60.95 per cent ) hectares is horticulture crops and others such as sugarcane and oil seeds occupy 4872 hectares (2.91 per cent ).
In the last few years the department of agriculture has offered several schemes to farmers — whether it is paddy cultivation or horticulture crops — it offer subsidy on high yielding seeds, assistance for fencing, subsidy for cultivation of hybrid rice, assistance for plant protection, support for mechanisation in agriculture.
Moreover, department offers support price to paddy, sugarcane, oil palm, arecanut, coconut and cashew. Besides, it also implements programmes such as Western Ghat development programme and other centrally sponsored schemes.
But the stagnation of agriculture indicates that financial assistance has not helped in any significant way to stop falling agricultural fortunes.
According to the State Government, abandoning cultivation due to non-availability of labour for field work, litigation among the owners, damage to land due to siltation in mining areas, conversion of agriculture to other lucrative purposes, small land holdings , availability of alternate employment are of the factors primarily responsible for decline in agriculture. However, it has does not seem to be taking tangible steps to arrest the fall of farm sector.
Some of the talukas in the State are badly affected by mining and consequently agriculture activities have suffered. Yet the Government is not seen clamping down on erring mining companies except making them pay compensation to farmers.
In 2008-09, 593 farmers had to bear with loss of their agriculture due to mining pollution. In 2009-10, 336 cases were reported. When mining slit enters paddy field, it naturally destroys the crop. The farmers do get compensation for loss of their crops but will they continue to cultivate if mining companies are left loose and allowed to dump mining waste without any concern for environment?
Social activist Seby Rodrigues who has been closely working with people affected by mining says, “I feel that it is good that provision for agriculture is increased. However it is not an alternative to closing down of mining industry in Goa that has destroyed and continues to destroy Goa agriculture”