Panaji: Union agriculture and farmers welfare minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday launched the Goa Fresh brand to promote and market agricultural products from Goa.Chouhan also announced the establishment of a third Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Goa to provide farmers with access to modern agricultural technology. Noting that two KVKs had already been established, one in each of Goa’s two districts, Sawant sought a third KVK for the newly created third district to extend agricultural technology and support to farmers.Addressing a gathering at the Aatmanirbhar Bharat – Swayampurna Goa and Seva Sankalp Abhiyan in Ponda, Chouhan assured chief minister Pramod Sawant that Centre would provide financial assistance to increase agricultural production and improve the quality of farm products.He said Goa had decided to reduce its dependence on imported agricultural produce by increasing cultivation within the state. Cashew and coconut produced in Goa, he said, could be exported to Oman and European countries with which India has free trade agreements.Chouhan said many coconut plantations had become old, resulting in declining yields. “My department has a coconut promotion scheme prepared to boost coconut production and increase coconut plantation,” he said.He said state govt had laid the foundation for a “golden Goa” and praised the state’s development model. “I will tell the entire country that the Goa model should be adopted to develop its states,” Chouhan said.He also highlighted govt’s Lakhpati Didi initiative, saying there were around 50,000 women associated with the programme in Goa, of whom more than 5,000 had become lakhpati didis.“We have set a target to make lakhpati didi, millionaire didi and time will come one day where we will see crorepati didi,” he said.Chouhan also criticised Congress over its opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing the party of having “double standards” on elections. He said Congress did not question the Election Commission when it won elections but raised doubts about the electoral process when it lost.He also took a swipe at the Goy Rakhonn Yatra (Save Goa Rally).Sawant said vegetable exports from Goa had increased by 100%, adding that the state had 53,400 farmers and the government had been able to reach them with various schemes.
