Pale-Surla farmers return to fields

Bicholim: After years of no land use, Pale-Surla farmers have resumed farming, cultivating maize on 40,000sqm of fallow land.The zonal agriculture department supported farmers by setting up an automation plant to supply water throughout the day using mining trenches.

Agricultural officer Sandeep Faldesai said it is a good thing that farmers from these areas are back into farming.

Faldesai said the agriculture department is ready to extend its support for farmers.He said it now depends on the farmers’ capacity to choose crops that maximise income and support the green and white revolutions determined by PM Modi and CM Pramod Sawant.Sanquelim zilla panchayat member Gopal Surlakar said all local panchayats have resolved to resume farming to support the Centre’s push for increasing agricultural productivity to reduce rising temperatures.Surlakar said this initiative will attract youths to agriculture, and govt will support them by providing necessary farming equipment for better livelihood.