Poor Calangute farmers renting out cowsheds

Due to rising cost and uncertain yield, many poor farmers in and around Calangute have abandoned farming and have rented out their cowsheds for other activities to eke out a living
They may be technically earning from farming-related activity, but not all farmers in and around Calangute are cultivating their lands.
Having abandoned farming activities due to rising cost and uncertain yield, many poor farmers have now begun renting out their cowsheds for other activities to eke out a living.
Speaking to Herald, many small and marginal farmers have claimed that while the State government has provided financial assistance to various categories of people, including fishermen, housewives and senior citizens, the poorer farmers have not been extended similar benefits or schemes to survive in the fast-changing society. 
“It is a good that the State government has come up with various schemes to encourage farmers to take up farming activities and cultivate seasonal and non-seasonal crops. But merely providing schemes will not help the poor and marginal farmers,” said former Calangute sarpanch and a farmer, Laxman Porob.
“The poor and marginal farmers should be provided a certain financial assistance on an annual basis to encourage them to take up cultivation of crops. With no financial assistance from the government, the poor and marginal farmers are forced to rent out their cowsheds for other activities.”
“The assistance through the harvester is encouraging, but the hay is destroyed and it makes it difficult for farmers to find feed for their cows and nurturing them becomes an expensive affair. Instead of spending huge amounts on harvester procurement from outside the State, the money could well have been utilised on providing financial assistance to the poor and marginal farmers, thus benefiting our very own Goans,” Porob added.
Another farmer acknowledged the support of political leaders in providing tractors or harvester machines, which “helps to offset certain financial burden.”
“But it does not entirely take care of the losses suffered by the poor and marginal farmers due to natural calamities, etc. The second yield has become very expensive due to water shortage for cultivation,” said the farmer.
Admitting that the problem was genuine, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has assured to take up the matter with the government.
“The government is keen on encouraging farmers and extending various financial schemes through subsidies to procure milch cows. I fully back farmers in their desire to go in for agricultural activity in Calangute, Candolim, Arpora-Nagoa and Parra, as this will be a healthy sign for my constituency,” said Lobo.