PANJIM: The Indian Postal Service, Goa Division has released a special cover and special cancellation on “Khola Chilli”, at the hands of Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavelkar, with the aim of promoting Goa’s unique chilli at the national and international level.
The Postmaster General, Goa Division Col S F H Rizvi said that this will help to encourage local chilli growing farmers, and promote the Goa brand at national and international level.
It is to be noted that the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices Dr Sudhir Jhakere, Director of Agriculture Nevil Alphonso and Vice President of Khola Chilli Producers and Farmers Association Krishna Velip were also present at the event.
Kavelkar, who is also the Agriculture Minister, said this initiative by the Indian Postal Service will give an additional boost to the efforts of the State government to promote “Khola Chilli”.
He pointed out how the “Khola Chilli” had earlier bagged the Geographical Indication (GI) tag as locally grown chilli in the village of Khola in Canacona Taluka.
He announced that the government will be setting up a chilli processing unit, which will enable further value addition to the locally grown chilli.
Kavlekar, who is the MLA from Quepem said that in a similar fashion, the government also has plans to set up a jaggery processing unit in the Barcem village in the Quepem Taluka.
While pointing out that a farmer producer organisation has been formed in village of Khola, he said the government is in the process of forming farmer producer organisations in all 12 Talukas.