Team Herald
MARGAO: Stressing the need for vegetable cultivation in kitchen gardens to avoid the harmful effects of chemical pesticides, Fr. Cipriano D’Silva, Parish Priest of St. Michael Church, Taleigao, remarked that farming also gives one mental peace and satisfaction.
He was addressing a gathering, mostly of farmers, at the recently held agricultural camp at Raia organised by the Raia panchayat in association with the Zonal Agriculture Office-Margao and Directorate of Agriculture.
Neville Alphonso, Director of Agriculture, praised the initiative of the panchayat to promote and train their villagers to tend to their own kitchen gardens and manage their waste organically.
Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco spoke about his efforts to boost cultivation using the latest technology in farm mechanisation. He also sought cooperation from all stakeholders to make agriculture a viable alternative to blue-collar jobs.
Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik stressed on the need to utilise fallow lands for cultivation. He expressed fear that lands, if left uncultivated, would be encroached for non-agricultural use, and promised to offer support for a smoother farming experience.
Around 400 vegetable kits along with Krishi Cards were distributed to farmers on the occasion. Shariff Furtado, Zonal Agriculture Officer, gave an elaborate presentation of the different schemes of the Agricultural Department. Raia Sarpanch Judas Quadros shared his plans to make vegetable cultivation popular in the village, in order for all families to have access to safe, pesticide-free vegetables.
