Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) has urged Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant to take swift action to support farmers whose paddy fields have been devastated by relentless, unseasonal rains across several talukas, including Salcete, Shiroda, and Aldona.
In a letter sent on Monday, GFP expressed grave concern over the extensive damage to standing paddy crops, which were flattened or spoiled due to continuous downpours triggered by a depression over the Arabian Sea. The heavy rain, accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms, struck during the critical harvest phase, leaving farmers facing significant financial distress.
Citing meteorological reports, the party noted that a stationary depression in the Arabian Sea, coupled with low-pressure systems nearby, had caused prolonged rainfall and flooding in agricultural areas. The resulting waterlogging, crop lodging, and premature sprouting rendered much of the paddy unsuitable for consumption.
GFP President Vijai Sardesai called for immediate joint damage assessment surveys by the Revenue and Agriculture Departments, urging the government to disburse compensation swiftly through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). He emphasised that up to 10% of SDRF funds could be used even if the Centre had not declared the event a national disaster.
Sardesai also pressed for structural changes to strengthen Goa’s agricultural resilience against climate-related disruptions. GFP recommended urgent investment in field drainage, water management systems, soil and water conservation, and the development of real-time weather forecasting and advisory networks for farmers.
The party further advocated promoting climate-resilient paddy varieties, expanding watershed and micro-irrigation projects under central schemes like PMKSY, and establishing drying and storage infrastructure to prevent post-harvest losses.
“The government must not only provide immediate relief but also lay the groundwork for long-term agricultural stability. Compensation, infrastructure improvement, and climate adaptation are essential to secure Goa’s farming future,” Sardesai stated.
