Union Minister for Agriculture and Farm ers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the revival of Goan coconut plantations (bagayats) through new plantations. He assured the devel opment of Goan cashew plantations by promising comprehensive technical, scientific, and economic support for the agricul ture sector in Goa. He was speaking at the Sankalp Se Seva Abhiyan and Sway ampurna Goa programme held at Sungrace Gardens, Bethora. Chouhan noted that co conut plantations in Goa have grown old, leading to lower yields. He empha sised the urgent need to plant new coconut trees to boost overall production and assured that a team of resource persons would be brought to Goa to guide lo cal farmers. He commended the Goa government for executing welfare initiatives, includ ing the flagship Swayam purna Goa programme. He lauded Goan farmers for their hard work and stated that with initiatives like Har Ghar Jal, Har Ghar Bijli, along with flyovers, and bridges, Goa has be come a role model of de velopment. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that Goa is not merely a tourism-ori ented State but deeply rooted in agriculture. He highlighted the State’s ag ricultural progress, not ing that while Goa once imported vegetables from Belagavi, it is now export ing vegetables back to Be lagavi.
He stated that direct payments worth Rs 27 crore have been made to local farmers over the past four years. He said while Goa is renowned for exporting Mankurad mangoes, a cold chain and warehouse ar rangement will soon be set up at Manohar Internation al Airport (Mopa) to facili tate hassle-free vegetable exports. He noted that out of a target of 17,000 Lakh pati Didis (women earning over Rs 1 lakh annually), the government has en abled 6,000 women so far. Agricultural subsidies worth Rs 80 crore were distributed to individu al farmers and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to celebrate their achievements across various fields. An information book let detailing the welfare schemes of the government was officially released by the Union Minister. The Farmer Producer Organi sations (FPO) Policy was launched, alongside the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National In stitute of Hydrology (NIH) and the Directorate of Ag riculture.
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The event also witnessed the launch of two Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) inter ventions for Goa. As part of the distribution drive, pet rol-operated water pumps were handed out to benefi ciaries. The event conclud ed with the felicitation of Lakhpati Didis, the award ing of checks to Bank Link age Committee members, organisations under the PM-FME scheme, and In tegrated Farming Clusters (CLF) chairpersons. Fur thermore, sanction orders for Pink Electric Rickshaws were handed over to SHG members, and outstanding Swayampurna Mitras and progressive farmers were felicitated. Subsidies were disbursed via cheques, and awards were presented to the winners of the ‘Goa Fresh’ logo and packaging solution design competi tions
