MARGAO: Farmers from Salcete on Monday demanded that the government formulate an Agriculture Policy centred on land, crops, and the welfare of farmers during a Salcete taluka level meeting at the South Goa Collectorate.
Various groups and farmers also shared their views and suggestions at the meeting which was organised for receiving inputs on the draft Goa Agriculture Policy.
The meeting was chaired by Salcete ZAO Shariff Furtado and District Agriculture Officer South Goa Rajesh Dessai.
They gave a patient hearing to the presentations and feedback from the participants and assured them that their inputs will be considered by the government.
NGO called Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir (GFPK) that participated at the meeting has been actively involved in the policy-making process since the circular was published on July 14.
It met the Agriculture Minister and Agriculture Director requesting them to extend the deadline from August 16 to September 15 and adopt a bottom-up planning approach by getting inputs from the village level.
The GFPK’s expert team conducted awareness meetings on agriculture in 33 villages, 13 gram sabhas and visited farmers clubs across Goa. It listened to the grievances and suggestions of farmers and submitted 105 suggestions to the government. GFPK has expressed its hope that its hard work for the last three and a half months will be seriously considered and find its due space in the policy.
GFPK insisted that this policy be finalised in the next six months. It said that the work done by various organizations and led by GFPK should be taken to logical outcomes for the sake of farmers and Goa.
