Panaji, March 25 (PTI) Sanquelim constituency in North Goa is emerging as a model for community farming, with crop growers coming together under a flagship initiative of the state government, officials said.
As part of the programme, farmers in villages such as Surla and Kudne have adopted coordinated planning, improved water management practices and shared mechanisation, leading to more efficient cultivation, a senior agriculture official said.
The initiative, implemented by the State Directorate of Agriculture, reflects the vision of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to promote sustainable farming through combined responsibility and better resource management for improved productivity, he said.
In Surla, group farming and scientific irrigation scheduling have helped streamline agricultural activities, while in Kudne, collective land preparation and use of common machinery have reduced individual costs and enhanced output, the official said.
Farmers said the initiative has helped revive fallow land and boosted their confidence.
Yashwant Gaonkar, a crop grower associated with the project, said that nearly 69 farmers came together to restart cultivation on land that had remained unused for seven years.
“Within a month, the fields became green and productive again due to our collective effort,” he said, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the CM, as well as the agriculture and water resources departments, for providing machinery and support.
Another farmer, Santosh Mavlingkar, said the group had initially taken a risk by deciding to cultivate long-abandoned land collectively.
“We were unsure about the outcome, but with government support, the project is progressing well, and we are hopeful of good returns,” he said, adding that continued assistance would help improve farmers’ income. PTI RPS NR
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