Horticulture Corp sees Rs 2.7cr boost in revenue

Panaji: The Goa State Horticultural Corporation Ltd has reported significant growth in its vegetable procurement from local farmers, with purchases increasing from 965.6 tonnes in 2019-20 to 1,662.4 tonnes in 2024-25 under its Promotion of Vegetable with Assured Market scheme.

The programme has also seen farmer payments rise from Rs 414.8 lakh to Rs 684.2 lakh during this six-year period.

The initiative has expanded its farmer base from 1,081 to 1,273 participants, adding 192 new farmers over the six years. Despite experiencing a decline in 2021-2022, the programme showed strong recovery and continued growth afterwards.

“This is more than just a numbers game—it’s about food security and self-reliance,” said Chandrahas Desai, GSHCL managing director. “We are currently about 30% self-sufficient, and with this pace, we aim to reach 100% self-sufficiency in vegetable production within the next few years.”

The corporation has increased its procurement centers from 15 to 17 to support the growing programme. This expansion helps reduce dependence on imports from neighbouring states and maintains stable prices in local markets.

The scheme primarily focuses on vegetables that thrive in Goan soil, including cucumber, bhendi (okra), cluster bean, bottle gourd, brinjal, and green chillies.

“The assured market approach eliminated the fear of crop loss due to unsold produce,” Desai said. “With consistent yield and supply, Goa is growing in food resilience and rural empowerment. It is not long until we become Swayampurna (self-sufficient) in most vegetables in Goa.”

The programme has demonstrated a substantial increase in revenue of nearly Rs 2.7 crore (Rs 269.4 lakh) during the reported period. This growth marks a significant turnaround since the pandemic, contributing to Goa’s agricultural revival through its assured market mechanism.