The state of Goa, which has been following paddy cultivation as one of its main agricultural activities since past several centuries, is finally witnessing the use of modern farming implements in large numbers, including mini tractors, power tillers, harvesters, motorised thrashers and paddy transplanters.
A local farmer using a power tiller to plough his field at Merces
The director of Agriculture, Mr Satish Tendulkar, speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’ Tuesday evening said that Goa has entered into the age of mechanised farming with response coming from farmers in this direction being far better than in the past.
“Today, farmers in Goa own at least 35 tractors, including mini tractors as compared to 45 tractors owned by the agricultural department,” Mr Tendulkar said pointing out, “While there are 400 to 500 power tillers owned by individual farmers in the state as against only 2 to 3 such machines owned by the agriculture department.” In fact, the government has now stopped buying agricultural implements and introduced a scheme for providing 50 per cent subsidy to farmers for purchasing such equipment, which is aimed at generating employment for say, drivers, operators, cleaners and mechanics, he informed.
Speaking further, the director of Agriculture said that the state presently has 2 paddy transplanters owned by private parties while the government is contemplating buying a pair of such implements. “I expect the state to have at least 7 to 8 paddy transplanters by the end of the year,” he predicted, stating that 12 to 13 motorised thrashers are being used in Goan fields.
It was also informed that the state is expected to get Rs 20 lakh worth combine harvester which is capable of cutting, threshing, straw separating and rice collecting simultaneously in a working process.
-Navhind Times
