Guv wants to make Goa an organic state, but which politician does?
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 02 March 2016 23:12 IST
Goa Governor Mridula Sinha has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make Goa the second organic state in the country, following Sikkim.
This was disclosed by Sinha to the delegation of farmers that met her today, demanding that assent be given to the controversial ‘coconut bill.’
Datta Damodar Naik, a thinker and businessman who also owns a farm house in Mollem, told goanews.com that the governor is keen on making Goa the organic state.
She told the delegation of Goa Farmers’ Association that a demand in this regard was placed before the PM at the 47th Governors’ Conference held at Rashtrapati Bhavan from 8 to 10 February.
This suggestion was also upheld by Arvind Kumar, principal secretary of commerce and industry of Sikkim, day before yesterday in Margao.
He was here to inaugurate 15-day exhibition-cum-sale of handloom products from Sikkim, being held at Ravindra Bhavan in the capital city of South Goa.
Finding several similarities between the north eastern state and the pimple on India’s face on the west coast, Kumar felt Goa has the same potential to become the organic state.
Sikkim has achieved the privilege of becoming India’s first organic state, declared last week by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In spite of having double the geographical area of Goa, 7069 sq kms compared to Goa’s 3702 sq kms, Sikkim has 47.69% of its area covered by forest while 82% of its area is under the control of forest department.
Goa, similarly, has 38.47% of its total area marked as forest, including 5.40% private forest.
While organic state requires minimum 20% forest area, the main focus is on developing agricultural through organic farming.
The initiative in Sikkim had however begun in 2003 with Chief Minister Pawan Chamling declaring in the Assembly to make the state completely organic.
While this initiative made him the CM of Sikkim five times, he banned sale of all kind of chemical fertilisers and fertilisers while promoting organic farming through awareness, workshops and practical demonstrations.
“We can also make this experiment a success with our rich tradition of organic vegetation like Moindolli (Moira) bananas, Saat Shiranche Bhende (lady fingers), brinjols from Agshi, sweet potatoes and so on”, says Naik.
But with Goans shying away from agriculture and all politicians running behind ‘imported industrialisation’ for employment generation, the question is: who would bell the cat?
First find out if any real farmers are there in Goa. Most of the farming is done because they don't have opening in Govt jobs. Some don't have place to set up gadda. Others who go for farming because income is tax free and cannot be said as genuine commetcial activity. No waste time on this prosal in Goa. Better protest loudly and fight for rickety polio stricken and bald maad this will give rich political harvest.