VASCO: The long pending demand of the farmers to have a dedicated Zonal Agriculture Office (ZAO) for Mormugao will be fulfilled with the launch of a new office at Cortalim soon, said Salcete ZAO Sheriff Furtado on Saturday.
Furtado said that local farmers were forced to travel all the way to Margao for ZAO services, but once the new facility is set up in Cortalim, there will be regular awareness camps held and a staffer will be deputed to the village panchayat office at least every fortnight to scrutinise applications and complete formalities to avail subsidies.
He further said that farmers have been sensitised on the importance of having a Krishi Card. There are more than 60 different and unique schemes and subsidies that offer up to 75 per cent on general category and 90 per cent subsidy on SC/ST category beneficiaries.
“Irrigation infrastructure is one of the major aspects that determine the success of farming activity and there are many schemes where part of funds come from the Central government. We thought of popularising these schemes and even giving free pesticides so as to motivate people to take up farming and agriculture,” said Furtado.
Velsao-Pale-Issorcim Sarpanch Diana Gouveia and PTXA president Roquezinho D’Souza were also present.
