Team Herald
CALANGUTE: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has demanded that the government immediately provide the subsidy that had been promised to farmers for their crops last year. He alleged that the government had been urging farmers to cultivate their fields and take up other farming activities, but the agriculture department had failed to release the subsidy.
While Lobo was launching a harvester machine at Parra on Friday, Francis Fernandes, a farmer, highlighted the difficulties of the farmers. He said, “The government had assured us subsidized rates for our paddy and other crops. Accordingly, we had given the produce to the government. Unfortunately, we have not been offered any subsidy till today. The government should understand the difficulties of the farmers and release the subsidies to encourage cultivation of paddy fields.”
Another farmer requested the government to provide fences for their paddy fields to keep away stray cattle.
After giving the farmers a patient hearing, Lobo assured to take up the issue with the chief minister. He said, “The harvesting season has started, but the assured 50 percent subsidy for farmers for last year has not been released by the agriculture department. Though the government was initially reluctant to offer any subsidy, it had to give in to pressure from the farmers and MLAs.”
Lobo continued, “The subsidy should be given to the farmers immediately on receiving the produce at the government godown instead of going through a long process. The government needs to encourage farming activities so that even the youth willingly come forward instead of running away from Goa in search of jobs.”
Lobo stated that the harvester machines would benefit farmers from Calangute constituency, including the villages of Calangute, Arpora-Nagoa, Candolim and Parra. He said, “I urge them to co-operate and coordinate with the authorities to carry out harvesting with the machines.”
