MARGAO

Agriculture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar on Thursday said that the agriculture department will encourage 1000-odd farmers in the state with the promotion of latest technology. 

Tawadkar, addressing the media to announce a one-day parishad scheduled on February 13 at Margao Ravindra Bhavan, which will see Union Minister for Agriculture Mohanbhai Kundariya and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar as guests, said that efforts are aimed at providing boost to farmers. 

"Agricultural output needs to be improved. The government is committed to the farmers in providing all the required support to increase the yield.  New marketing concepts will be introduced and we will be encouraging  the youth in colleges explaining them how they can make a career in  agriculture with the help of high-tech machinery,'' he said, adding that, the  department will  prepare a plan on how to  visit the colleges and conduct talks on agriculture and the schemes formulated by the government. 

He said that meetings will be held in two phases post the one-day parishad in Goa. "We want to send a message that there is a lot of scope in agriculture.  Youth can make their career in agriculture. They can perceive it as like any other industry,'' the minister said, assuring all support of the department.

When the media pointed out that land scarcity in Goa has discouraged many young farmers and asked whether the government can give barren land for cultivation, Tawadkar said that a thought can be given to it after discussing with the chief minister and other ministers.

On complaints that the wild animals are destroying the crops, he said the department of forest and agriculture will decide on the problem. "The problem has been brought to our notice.  The government is contemplating on categorising few of these animals as menace given that they damage crops. The decision will come after discussing the issue in detail," the minister added.