MARGAO: Farmers from Nuvem village submitted their suggestions for draft agriculture policy through the Nuvem village panchayat on Tuesday.
Their suggestions were divided into nine sub-categories such as Agriculture-related education & research infrastructure development, cropping patterns, input management, irrigation, agriculture mechanization, land reforms & regulations, construction license and new technologies.
The farmers led by Jose Roque Andrade also described what is happening in the village to illustrate one of their suggestions regarding irrigation projects.
He suggested that all the bandharas and Tollem (lake) should be closed in time so that enough water accumulates for Rabi crop (Vaigon) and reasoned that the collection of water would also help maintain the water table, which would help the environment and conservation of biodiversity.
“The bandharas and Tollem are closed late therefore, the accumulation of water for the Rabi crop is not sufficient. The Duncolim tollem closing date is September 9, but it is closed in October by WRD. Similarly, the closing date for the Rumder Tollem in Nuvem is September 23, but it is closed in mid-October by WRD. Due to this late closure, sufficient water is not accumulated in the catchment area and farmers cannot cultivate Rabi crops also,” said Andrade.
