MARGAO: South Goa Comunidade Forum (SGCF) has submitted a three-page long memorandum to Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik and Agriculture Director Nevil Alphonso, wherein they have requested for inclusion of representatives from Comunidades in the recently reconstituted committee that has been tasked with working out a ‘Comprehensive Agricultural Policy for the State of Goa’.
Questioning the omission of the Comunidades in the committee, they emphasised that they have a unique perspective, local knowledge of traditional methods etc, which can help craft a robust and sustainable agricultural policy.
They also added that this will ensure that the policy caters to the needs and aspirations of this significant stakeholder group.
Referring to the recent notification dated June 1, 2023, they pointed out that the 24-member strong committee led by the Minister, comprises a diverse range of experts, including farmers, government officials, scientists, and representatives from co-operative societies, but no Comunidade representatives.
“The government’s intent to develop a comprehensive and inclusive agriculture policy is evident and commendable. However, it has come to our notice that representatives of the Comunidades have not been included in this committee,” the SGCF said.
“The Comunidades play a crucial role in Goa’s agricultural landscape. They are one of the largest custodians of agricultural land in Goa and control most of the water bodies used to irrigate our local fields. Their unique perspective, local knowledge and traditional methods could offer invaluable insights that would greatly benefit the crafting of a robust and sustainable agricultural policy,” the Forum added.
“The omission of the Comunidade representatives, we believe, could inadvertently lead to the development of a policy that does not fully consider the needs, challenges, and potential contributions of a significant stakeholder in our State’s agriculture sector,” said Sávio Correia, SGCF secretary
“We understand that the committee was formed recently, and it is set to work for the next six months. Considering this, we strongly urge you to consider promptly, including representatives from the Comunidades in the committee to ensure their valuable contributions are incorporated throughout the policy-making process,” said SGCF President Franky Monteiro.
