* Ravi Naik urges WRD to construct a Dam at Codar to bring 30 hectares of fallow lands under cultivation.
* Says while taking college education the youth should also conduct the traditional farming activity.
Goemkrponn desk
PONDA: Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik and Subash Shirodkar today urged the farmers to revive agriculture on fallow lands in Goa.
Both Ministers, in their speeches, expressed their commitment to cooperation from departments in farmers’ interests.
WRD Minister Subash Shirodkar said his department is committed to supplying water by creating a new water resource source for agriculture.
The Ministers were speaking after the inauguration of Administrative Building for Government Agriculture Farm at Codar Ponda, costing Rs 2.5 Crore.
Director of Agriculture Nevil Alphonso, PMC Chairperson Ritesh Naik, Councillor Anand Naik, Bethora Sarpanch Vishant Gaonkar, Panchmember Sushant Gaonkar, Borim Panch Sunil Sawkar, and Codar farm officials were present for the function.
Speaking on occasion, Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik said at Codar farm, out of available 110 hectares of land, 80 hectares is brought under cultivation with cashew and coconut beside nurseries. He said there is an annual income of Rs 40 lakh from the Codar farm, and there is a need to bring the rest 30 hectares of land under cultivation.
Ravi Naik, therefore, urged WRD for the construction of the Dam at Codar to bring 30 hectares of fallow land under cultivation. He urged College youths that while taking college education, the youth should also conduct the traditional farming activity.
He said in the future, water would be most valuable as gold and diamond.
“There would be significant water demand, there will be a fight in the world for the need of water, and so We should stress on storage of rainwater. In Goa, more than 120-inch rainfall every year, and if we harvest rainwater, We can even export water in exchange for oil and petrol,” he said.
WRD Minister Subash Shirodkar said in Goa; that there are around five lakh families; however, about 40,000 families depend entirely upon Agriculture production for their livelihood. He said considering the unemployment problem; there is a need to encourage 5000 youth to cultivate agriculture. He urged the people engaged in jobs to undertake agriculture. He said there is no need to stay away from agriculture while conducting jobs.
