Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the agricultural policy will be unveiled next month and will be kept open for public scrutiny.
“I am happy to inform you that the state agriculture policy has been formulated under leadership of Ravi Naik. It will be unveiled after the end of the Pitru Paksha.” said Sawant
He further said that his government has enacted The Goa Restriction on Transfer of Agricultural Land Act, which aims to prevent misuse and restrict non-agricultural activities on farmland.
He said the conversion charges have been increased to discourage the conversion of all land types to maintain green cover.
Department officials have been informed that a total of 3751 recommendations have been received for inclusion in the policy from farmers, panchayats, elected officials, and other stakeholders.
Based on the suggestions, the Committee had identified focused areas like agriculture and horticulture development, integrated farming, land, soil and watershed development, khazan land, fertilizer, nutrient, pesticide and pest management, agro tourism, organic and natural farming, agriculture export, storage and warehousing, climate and environment, agriculture in school curriculum and research.
In June 2023, a committee consisting of 24 members was reorganized by the state government to devise a comprehensive policy on agriculture for Goa.
Members of the committee including farmers, scientists, agriculturists, educators, representatives of cooperative societies, and other stakeholders are led by the minister of agriculture.
