Goemakrponn desk
VASCO: Activists and farming bodies have demanded for having a dedicated Zonal Agricultural Office ( ZAO ) for the farmers in Mormugao Taluka.
There have been several representations and demands made by the farming association to the Government for a ZAO for the sake of hundreds of Farmers in Mormugao Taluka, including areas of Chicalim, Dabolim, Cortalim, Velsao and other parts of the Taluka but the demand is yet to be met by the Government.
Farmers have complained of going through hardships as the demand for ZAO in Mormugao has not been met for as long as the last 35 years.
Speaking to the media, convenor of Goencho Avaaz, Captain Viriato Fernandes, said that it was sad that despite demands, the Government had not taken the initiative to set up a ZAO in Mormugao Taluka
“The youth who have now looking towards agriculture are also facing issues in the absence of the ZAO. The Chicalim Youth Farmers club has also recently placed a demand for the ZAO, but nothing has been done. The youth have demanded and even met officials to appoint an officer dedicated to Mormugao Taluka, but I don’t understand why the Government is not paying heed to the farmers’ requests,” he said.
“While on one side, the Government is talking of encouraging farmers, on the other side, it is not appointing either a dedicated official for Mormugao or having a ZAO for Mormugao Taluka. How can we take the fight to bring about a revolution in agriculture forward if the Government does not look into our demands?
It is better late than never and we request the Government to accept our demands for the sake of many farmers who are inconvenienced due to the absence of ZAO as they are handicapped for the want of the Zonal Agricultural office ” said Fernandes.
Pale Tolem Xetkar Association President Roquezinho Dsouza speaking to reporters, said that a lot of farmers in Velsao village had faced inconvenience as they had to travel all the way to Margao for any farming-related issues
“We have the real need of having ZAO in Vasco dedicated for farmers in Mormugao Taluka because for any needs, we have to rush to Margao. Sometimes we get a subsidy, and we have to go with our form 1 and 14 to Margao while our other agriculture-related department, like the Mormugao Mamlatdar office, is based in Vasco. We have to go to Vasco and then go to Margao and vice versa. If we have a ZAO in Vasco, things will be easier for farmers of this Taluka,” said Dsouza.
Dsouza added that he had personally met the CM during the Sarkar Tumchya Daari program at Zuarinagar and informed him about the need for the ZAO for Mormugao Taluka.
“The CM has heard my plea and assured me that within a short time, the ZAO will be established in Vasco for the benefit of hundreds of farmers in Mormugao Taluka. We look forward to the assurance by the CM because a dedicated ZAO in Mormugao is the need of the hour,” said D’Souza.
Another Velsao farmer Mangaldas Sattarkar said that farmers had to go to Vasco for primary agriculture activity to Vasco Mamlatdar office and later rush to Margao ZAO for approvals.
“It is not only tedious but time-consuming and also economically not viable for some. With hiked petrol rates and subsequent increase of Bus tariffs as well, we sometimes have to change two to three buses to get our jobs done. We farmers are put into a lot of inconvenience with no ZAO office in Mormugao Taluka. There have been several representations and appeals made by farmers for a dedicated ZAO, but till date, there has been no response as yet from the Government side,” said Sattarkar.
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