Mechanization, subsidies hold potential for revival of agriculture
Posted by Labels: Agriculture Schemes, Mechanization, subsidiesThough agriculture has shown a decline due to rise in labour costs and a switch to other occupations, increasing use of machinery and availability of attractive subsidies holds a promise for rejuvenation of the farm sector.
Paddy cultivation is the dominant crop, but cashew plantation is a major horticultural crop."There is more cultivation of paddy fields in recent years due to wide use of multi-task harvesters," a farmer said. With the state assembly elections looming ahead, some politicians have distributed free power tillers, mini power tillers and weed cutters. The use of harvesters, which drastically cut down costs and make reaping of paddy crops and bagging of grain easy, is provided free to farmers by some politicians.
The government has also provided an attractive subsidy of 75% on purchase of harvesters costing 18 lakh and above, provided the farmers form self help groups.
After neglect of agriculture for a couple of decades or more, the government intervened at last, offering a plethora of schemes in Budget 2011-2012. Chief minister Digambar Kamat increased the plan outlay from 23.94 crore in 2009-10 to 51.57 crore in 2010-11 to help the farm sector.
Construction of poly houses and green houses under national horticulture mission will be subsidized by 90%. While the Union government provides 50% subsidy, the state will now chip in with 40%.
As per present plans, a onetime grant of 80,000 per hectare is proposed to all groups who take up vegetable cultivation in a big way. The expenditure towards seeds, fertilizers, water pump, pipeline, fencing will be covered through a budget allocation of 200 lakh.
The allocation for agriculture is just over 4% of the total budget. "As per the eligibility clause, every state has to provide at least a 4% share of the total state budget for agriculture in order to avail funds under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)," an agriculture department official said. In the past, Goa could not fulfill this criterion.
Darryl Pereira, a progressive farmer said. "All these schemes are very favourable toward revitalizing agriculture, but they have to be properly used." Farmers say there is no separate cell to usher in full-scale mechanization as in other states, which entrust it to universities or separate cells.
The lack of an agriculture policy to freeze cultivable land for farm sector is sorely felt. "Without an agriculture policy, it will be difficult to achieve the objectives of promoting agriculture," a social activist said.
Fragmentation of land due to splitting of families into nuclear units is another setback. "The government has to determine that land above one acre is agricultural land to prevent further fragmentation," an agriculture official agreed.
The pressure on agricultural land in a state witnessing a boom in construction and tourism sector is enormous. Environmentalists raised concerns over marking of agricultural land for housing in Regional Plan 2021. "If India or Indians are acquiring farming land abroad, it is a fundamental requirement that we protect every inch of our own land," Goa farmers collective member, Abhijeet Prabhudesai said. Food security ahead will be a big concern, he said, questioning the rationale behind allowing conversion of forests and agricultural lands.
Darryl Pereira said it was a positive sign but he feels more can still be allocated. "I feel more should have been allocated because agriculture needs a major shot in the arm. There is much to do there is a mountain of task for revitalization of agriculture," he said. Activists in farm sector feel a high powered expert committee should be set up to advise the government and agriculture department officers to revitalize agriculture.
The Times of India
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