Farming-based subjects in schools, colleges to nudge youth towards fields: Govt

Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said that state govt has introduced agriculture-based subjects at high school, higher secondary school, and college levels so that youth can take up agriculture in Goa. Govt said there is a 20-tonne shortage of vegetables in the state.Sawant said that one subject has been introduced from Class VIII to Class XII levels. He also said govt has started an agriculture college in the state. He said that even students are taking to the fields.Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco questioned govt on its plan to increase vegetable production. “What steps will you take so that youth turn to agriculture in the state? Youth want profit,” Lourenco said.He said that introducing a subject will not help attract youth to agriculture as parents will not allow their children to work in fields. He said that until govt increases the subsidy for chillies and other agricultural products, it cannot attract youth to take up agriculture.“When will you increase the buying price for agricultural products? Otherwise, many people will leave cultivation,” Lourenco said. Agriculture minister Ravi Naik said govt will soon review the price. Sawant said govt will study the market rate and accordingly revise the prices.Naik said that youth come for agriculture training at a centre in Margao. “Youth have realised that they have to save ancestral land, and they have started taking training,” he said.Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral asked whether govt will set a target to increase agricultural production in the state. Cabral noted that the agriculture policy has not specified giving targets to agriculture officers to increase production.Naik said that govt has set a target for officers to increase agriculture production and based on that, they receive incentives.Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said that the agriculture production figures provided in the House are not accurate. Sardesai said the 20-tonne vegetable shortfall is not a proper figure.