Government College of Arts,Science and Commerce, Quepem-Goa, one of the latest members of the Botanical Society of Goa, organized a day-long , State level seminar on "Exploring Goa's potential in Agriculture and Horticulture". The Seminar was inaugurated by Prakash Velip, Chairman of Adarsh Krishi Bagayatdar Sahakar Society Ltd and Goa State Co-operative Bank, in the presence of Dr.H.Y.Karapurkar,President of BSG and Dr. B.Arthur Gomes, Principal of the College.
Mr. Velip said," I am a farmer , and proud to be one. I have grown in the farming community and worked with my hands. I do not see any reason why an educated person should feel ashamed to work with the soil which feeds him." He spoke of the activities carried out by the Society with the assistance of Central Government and State agencies for the farmers of Goa during the last few years.'Kissan Credit Cards' have been issued to farmers to help them avail of loans, he said. Mr. Roy Antao, a progressive farmer and close friend of the former Agriculture Minister Francisco Sardinha, publicly acknowledged that the current State Government has been responsive to the farmers' needs. The Chief Minister had replied to his telegram about the high rate of interest charged on agricultural loans vis-a-vis housing loans. The rates were brought on par by the Banks shortly thereafter. This experience was shared by others present at the seminar who had emailed, faxed or sent telegrams or letters to the CM. I had the privilege of being the first speaker of the day and a 'moderator ' for the second session in which the star speaker was Mr.Amancio Fernandes, Zonal Agriculture Officer of Canacona and the man behind the success of many self-help groups [SHGs] that are making waves in Goa. Amancio spoke of 'Agri-business opportunities'[ the subject and title of a book edited by him and published by the Agriculture Officers' Association with a chapter on floriculture contributed by me]. I spoke on 'Orchid Cultivation in Goa' and invited those interested for hands-on learning at 'Goa Flora' a 15000 orchid plant unit in Sal with which I was associated at its inauguration on 23 February,2004. It is a prediction made by me on 30 November,2003, at the 'Plant Utsav' come true. Vivek Naik has pumped in Rs.25 lakhs to make that vision a reality. Meanwhile the Orchid training course at St.Xavier's College,Mapusa, is going on. Its co-ordinator[Wendy] was at the Seminar,too.Vivek Naik has offered hands-on training at Goa Flora-Sal to the trainees at SXC,Mapusa. Things could not get better. Viva Goa. Miguel --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.543 / Virus Database: 337 - Release Date: 11/22/2003 ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
