“An institution has proposed to start a college of agriculture. We may take a policy decision by October,” Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the House during the ongoing monsoon session of the Goa Assembly on Wednesday.
The government, he said, also intends to financially support the existing school at Savoi-Verem. Bringing relief to financially weak students belonging to SC/ST category, he assured to support them under government’s various schemes or through chief minister’s fund.
Meanwhile, in an effort to ensure effective functioning of zonal agricultural officers (ZAO), the CM assured the House today that he would personally supervise their field work in their respective zones across the State. The government, he said will also investigate into the alleged misuse of harvesters in Salcete taluka.
“There are some ‘black spots’ where ZAOs have become office boys… I have already asked the director of agriculture to conduct a field check. I will also check their functioning and replace such ZAOs,” he said in reply to a question tabled by Independent MLA Naresh Sawal.
In the same breath, the chief minister himself pointed out to the misuse of harvesters in Salcete and assured to inquire into it.
Parrikar, who holds the Agriculture portfolio, claimed that various financial schemes and subsidies have boosted farming in the last two years, despite ‘farming being a loss making enterprise.’
“Production has increased, cultivable land has increased and the farmers are excited. We have introduced many schemes, which are supporting farmers and we have spent Rs 58 crore on subsidies,” he told the House, adding, “There is 4 to 4.5 per cent growth in production. Farmers are getting good prices for their produce.”
The CM also ruled out staff shortage in department, replying to a starred question by Bicholim MLA that government does not have sufficient agricultural officers to cater to the schemes. As against the sanctioned strength of assistant agricultural officers, the department’s present strength is 26 while 21 posts are vacant.
