Team Herald
MARGAO: A passionate gathering in Margao on Friday saw Goans, especially youth, voicing their determination to protect agricultural land from large-scale conversion, warning of dire consequences for the State’s farming future if immediate action is not taken.
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The meeting, organised by Citizens for Democracy under the theme “Bapu, will our agricultural land survive?”, brought together prominent agriculturalists and farmers to discuss the urgent need to preserve Goa’s fertile lands amidst mounting threats of land conversion.
Speakers including farmers Fr George Quadros, Varad Samant, Amancio Fernandes, and Avertinho Miranda delivered impassioned appeals, drawing attention to the growing menace of land grabbing, indiscriminate zoning law changes, and the encroachment of agricultural land for development projects, roads, and tourism ventures.
A particularly poignant appeal came from young agriculturalist Varad Samant, who urged the younger generation not to sell their ancestral farmland. “Farming is not a loss-making profession. There is significant profit in it if approached the right way. Protecting agricultural land is crucial for our future. Without agriculture, survival will become extremely difficult, and people will struggle to access nutritious, affordable food,” he said.
Amancio Fernandes echoed this sentiment. “We cannot afford to remain silent or complacent. Goa’s food safety and security are at risk. We need strong agricultural policies, better planning at the panchayat level, and reforms in education to incorporate farming as a key subject,” he asserted.
The speakers didn’t just focus on the threats but also proposed solutions. Fernandes suggested introducing a new agricultural policy and strengthening farmers’ associations to amplify their collective voice.
Avertinho Miranda raised grave concerns about the ongoing destruction of Goa’s hills and khazan lands. He warned, “The pressure on Goa’s land is immense, and if this continues unchecked, we will see irreversible damage within the next five years. Land cannot be converted without the involvement of the bureaucracy and the government, and it’s time we held them accountable.”
He also spoke about the inseparable link between land and water in sustaining farming and called for stricter measures to protect both resources.
Fr George Quadros, known as the paddy priest of Goa, highlighted the power of community-driven change, noting that even a single motivated individual in a village can transform its agricultural landscape.
Elvis Gomes pointed out that agricultural land has become one of the most targeted resources in Goa and called for collective action to safeguard it for future generations.
