Govt policies and regional reality don’t match: Goan farmers

Panaji: In her Budget speech on Saturday, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a series of initiatives including the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses to enhance the production of tur, urad, and masoor, a comprehensive programme for vegetables and fruits, and a national mission on high yielding seeds designed to boost research and the availability of over 100 high-yield seed varieties. While these initiatives may be welcomed by many, farmers in Goa have raised concerns about their applicability and effectiveness at the grassroots level.

Nestor Rangel, a farmer from Valpoi, highlighted the mismatch between national policies and regional agricultural realities. He pointed out that growing the alsanda pulse in Goa proved to be more profitable than tur and urad dals. “The alsanda fetches Rs 350 per kg and is sold quickly in local markets. Alsanda is grown without chemicals, and it suits Goa’s soil and climatic conditions. Govt, however, doesn’t take into account these regional differences. You cannot have one formula for all the states. There should be area-specific crops and fruits. In Goa, we need more attention on crops like mango and cashew,” Rangel said.

Govt’s push for aatmanirbharta in pulses may not align with Goa’s agricultural strengths, as pulses like masoor don’t grow well in the state, according to agriculture experts.

Joaquim Dsouza, a farmer from Merces, said that the incentives outlined in the Budget are ambitious, but bureaucratic hurdles are often an obstacle for farmers. “There are many promises made by govt, but they need to be practical. To avail of any benefits, the process is not smooth and requires multiple trips to the directorate of agriculture. Unless these bureaucratic hurdles are resolved, we cannot see any productive results in the fields,” Dsouza said.

Chandrahas Desai, managing director of the Goa State Horticulture Corporation, was however optimistic saying that the focus on high-yielding crops could help Goa become more self-sustainable. “The corporation alone procures eight to nine tonnes of fruits and vegetables twice a week from neighbouring states. At the same time, retailers, wholesalers, and other sellers procure nearly 50 tonnes of greens from outside Goa. Becoming self-sufficient in high-yielding crops like okra, brinjal, and cucumbers, which grow very well in Goa, could help us achieve this goal,” he said. He also conceded that masoor does not grow well in Goa.