PANJIM: Goa Government is likely to sign agreement with Centre, under its indo-Israel and indo-Dutch treaty, to set up Centre of Excellence, in a bid to give major boost to the horticulture and floriculture in the coastal belt.
In a high-level meeting held between the Union Minister for State for Agriculture Shobha Karandlaje and Goa Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture Chandrakant Kavlekar, the Ministry has granted in-principle sanction for another 500 organic clusters for Goa.
It has also considered State’s proposal to set up eight mandis—four each in North and South Goa.
State government is also expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up a Centre of Excellence in Goa to promote high value horticulture and floriculture with modern technologies.
A delegation from Goa led by Kavlekar, Secretary Revenue Sanjay Kumar, Director Agriculture Nevil Alphonso, Assistant Director Agriculture Dattaprasad Desai, Chandrakant Shinde, Sachin Kunkolienkar and Gautam Fatarpekar met Karandlaje and Secretary Agriculture Sanjay Kumar Agarwal in New Delhi.
Kavlekar stated that the Ministry has validated its proposal to setup the Centre of Excellence in Goa and in next 15 days the agreement is expected to be signed between the State and Central government.
State has also asked for funds to repair the Khazan bunds and also to setup State Integrated Organic Agriculture University.
“Proposal to setup total of new 8 mandis in Goa with has also been considered. These mandis will be connected to national online market under eNAM initiative of the Government,” said DyCM.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sanman Nidhi will be extended to 10000 more farmers.
