Goa: Agriculture scheme amended to boost vegetable cultivation

PANAJI: In a bid to increase the production of local vegetables and make its seeds available in sufficient quantity for its large scale cultivation in the state, the Local Vegetable Seed Production Programme has been launched amending the Goa Development of Horticulture Scheme.
The farmers willing to cultivate local vegetables for production of seed in minimum area of 0.05 ha will be registered by the department of agriculture as registered seed growers.These farmers will be provided good quality local seeds at 50% subsidised rate besides providing technical know-how for the production of quality seeds. Registered seed growers will be extended other department schemes on priority such as assistance for irrigation, fencing, organic inputs, etc.
The vegetable seed produced by these farmers will be purchased by the directorate of agriculture at a prefixed rate which will be decided by the committee constituted for the purpose at the beginning of the cropping season.
Plastic mulching in vegetables and flowers will be promoted to reduce weed menace and conservation of moisture in the soil.
Plastic mulch of 25 to 50 microns black or white colour can be used depending on the crop which will be assisted under the scheme. The estimated cost of plastic mulch per hectare is approximately Rs 16,000 and 75% assistance on the cost of material amounting to Rs 12,000 hectares will be provided to the farmer.
The minimum area that can be assisted is 0.05 heactares and maximum of four hectares. Assistance will be provided on the actual area covered and certified by the zonal agriculture officer.
Material purchased within and outside the state will also be considered for assistance to transfer the technology to the farming community of Goa.