Goemkarponn Desk
A Velsao youth Mifroy Costa has decided to take up cultivation of 2.8 lakhs sq mtrs of barren land around Velsao Lake, as a long pending wish to start agriculture and with an aim to inspire the youth towards farming.
The Cultivation program was launched in Velsao on Wednesday at the hands of Cortalim MLA Anton Vas in the presence of ZP Merciana Vas, Pale Tolem Xetkaranche Association ( PTXA ) President Roquezinho D’Souza, Zonal Agriculture Officer Mahesh Kankonkar, Bakhale of Paradeep Phospates Limited ( PPL) and a large number of farmers and residents .
Speaking to media, Mifroy Costa said that farmlands were ancestral and we’re being deserted
” My mother has worked hard in these farms and i decided to restore these farmlands by cultivating it. We have seen many a times people even landfill farmlands and i want to keep these farms for our future generations. PTXA has assured me of all support and i hope to get support from the Goverment as well. I also want to inspire youth to get back to agriculture” said Costa
Cortalim MLA Anton Vas said that farming such a huge land was not an easy job to do but assured to help Costa with all the schemes through the Government
” We have already got the lake desilted and we are always willing to help farmers across the Cortalim constituency. We have also launched new tractor machines that will use cage wheels to cut big plants to help farmers and prevent our machines from getting stuck in farmlands .
We will provide all possible assistance to Costa in his aim to get the fields restored ” said Vas
PTXA President Roquezinho D’Souza said appealed MLA Anton Vas , ZP Merciana Vas , Agriculture officer and PPL to offer all their support to Costa in his endeavour through government schemes and technical support
“We got the lake desilted after 20 years and it was this time when Mifroy Costa met me and spoke about cultivating the large barren land around the lake which was ignored by the owners also. I then advised him that we will stand with him in his work which will help develop the green cover further in Velsao to fight pollution. ” said D’Souza
Assistant Agriculture officer Mahesh Kankonkar said that it was a great moment when a huge belt was being cultivated again
“PTXA President Roquezinho D’Souza had come to our office and we had examined our schemes to him and i want to appreciate Mifroy Costa who has decided to cultivate these barren lands . We have seen youth leaving farms and migration out but this is the first time that i have seen a youth come back to cultivate barren lands. We will provide all suport to him through our ZAO office and subsidies on pest control and tractor machines besides financial assistance etc ” said Kankonkar
