Team Herald

MARGAO: Locals of Chinchinim-Deussua village panchayat have been assured that Durga farms, owned by the Agriculture Department, will not remain idle. On Friday, and inspection of the land was carried out by government officials and an interaction with Sarpanch Valentino Barretto, panch members, village-level committees and MLA Cruz Silva.

Panch member Gerson Gomes had earlier raised concerns about the land being left abandoned, except for a small portion, which once saw major cultivation by the elders of the village. The issue was also brought up in the Assembly by MLA Cruz Silva.

During the inspection, the Project Director of Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) shared that the land will be used for paddy cultivation and a training centre for farmers. The fertile swathe of land has also been selected as the base for the Central government’s One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. Coconut plantations and processing will be the focus, along with jackfruit processing to help farmers enhance the value of their farm products for better marketability.

Local demands and suggestions were also taken into consideration, with 100 square metres of land proposed to be given to local farmer groups for kitchen garden activities. The training centre will also accept participants from the area.

The repair of sluice gates was also assured to prevent saline intrusion in these fields and neighbouring areas. The success of other large fields in the village where cultivation has been revived was also highlighted.

The locals of Chinchinim-Deussua village panchayat were pleased that their concerns and demands were heard and said that they look forward to seeing the land being utilised for various agro-projects.