MARGAO: Emphasising upon the need to curb exploitation of cultivable land, Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik on Monday warned that his department won’t permit easy conversion of agricultural land for housing and other commercial purposes as such land needs to be preserved for the future.
The minister said he had already passed on instructions to the Agriculture Department about such applications that come for clearance.
Naik spoke about helping farmers in the State to overcome the hurdles that they may face. The minister said he had moved a proposal to set up a Coconut Corporation to harness the economic value of the commonly grown palm in the State and to ensure that growers can be assisted to cut their losses.
While this proposal is being scrutinised by the Law Department, Naik said the corporation with funds from the Centre and partly from the State will also play the role of cushioning the losses faced by farmers due to disease affecting the palms and other natural causes.
Naik also praised initiatives taken up by locals to promote agriculture in all forms.
Along with the Agriculture Director, Naik visited a camp organised by Raia Panchayat in association with the Agriculture Department to make the best use of land around their homes for kitchen gardening.
The Minister commended Sarpanch Jude Quadros’ efforts. Various resource persons guided the participants on the cultivation of various crops. Agricultural tool stalls were also put up at the camp.
