Goa's agriculture deserves more than a shot in the arm to be successful or just survive; nothing less than a through transfusion is necessary.
Giving small subsidies to farmers, please note, is a little like trying to apply a band-aid on a patient who is at death's end. With the high cost of labour and the abundance of vegetables and fruit from outside Goa pouring in, at prices the local producers cannot hope to compete with, what passes for agricultural support in Goa is simply not enough. We have along way to go. Organic farmers markets are the need of the hour. In every village there should be an organic farmers market where farmers, and farmers only, are allowed to sell their produce. Rice, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and so on, can be sold in these markets by farmers from the village only through their extended restaurants. The farmers, in this way, will get a much greater profit margin . They also will be better able to compete with the produce from outside the State and Goa can become self sufficient to a large extent in fruit and vegetables. Agricultural land will become more lucrative and farmers won't have to dispose of their land to builders; no conversion of land should be allowed as these are farmers markets! In general natural food farming should be encouraged, so villagers can benefit from the food which is free of dangerous chemicals. Kitchen gardens can be included in this marketing strategy: individuals, too, who live in the villages should be allowed to sell their produce in local approved spaces. It will help to raise the standard of health in the village and provide additional income to village households. As the truism goes - we are what we eat - and so, let's eat right.
