VASCO: Director of Agriculture Neville Alphonso in his reply to GOACAN has informed that the proposal for dedicated Zonal Agriculture Office (ZAO) for Mormugao taluka has been placed before the State Government for approval.
Agriculturists and Greens from the taluka hope that the proposal materialises at the earliest.
Many locals said a dedicated ZAO would boost the low profile agricultural activities in the industrialised and urbanised taluka.
It may be recalled that a few months ago GOACAN in a letter to Director of Agriculture stated that it is important to have a full-fledged ZAO in Mormugao. As a part of the Economic Revival Plan for Goa having ZAO in the taluka, agriculture would get a boost and farmers from the taluka would get seeds, manure and machinery from the Directorate of Agriculture.
GOACAN had pointed out that this was the right time to set up full-fledged ZAO in the taluka as the government is working on Economic Revival Plan to tackle the new realities emerging due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the State and agriculture is seen as an important sector in this Plan. Moreover, the United Nations Decade of Family Farming 2019 to 2028 and the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) 2020 provide the policy framework and stimulus for the required budget allocation for opening this ZAO.
Roland Martins of GOACAN said, “It is very important to have ZAO in Mormugao as early as possible. I feel even the government can think of taking a rented premises to set up an office. The dedicated ZAO will benefit farmers in terms of quick clarification of doubts, availing schemes, seeds etc”.
Valerie Afonso, a youth from Chicalim said, “It is good to know that the director has taken up this matter and put up the ZAO proposal for the taluka for government approval. I feel if the ZAO becomes a reality then many farmers and people from the taluka will benefit, who otherwise have to travel to Margao to seek any information, avail schemes, seeds, etc.”
Chicalim parish priest Fr Bolmax Pereira appreciated the Director of Agriculture’s move terming it as a right move in the right direction.
Fr Pereira said, “Having a dedicated ZAO in Mormugao, the taluka farmers will get easy access, support and right information from the Agriculture Department.”
Chicalim agriculturalist Rui Araujo said, “The Agricultural Department has done the right thing by sending this proposal for full fledged ZAO for Mormugao for government approval. For many years, the taluka farmers have been going through hardship, they had to travel to Margao ZAO to get their work done. But if the ZAO becomes a reality then it will be easy for the farmers to get help and contact the officials.”
