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GSHDC's proposed scheme aims to re-cultivate fallow land BINDIYA CHARI PANJIM, DEC 14 The trend of leaving agricultural land fallow continues unabated, so to say. And agriculturists, who have stopped cultivating land for various reasons, see no future for the occupation on which the past economies were based. Well, hold on! There might be some light at the end of the tunnel. The various schemes brought out by Agriculture Department over the years have not cut much ice. Now, a new initiative has been taken by the authorities to re-cultivate the fallow lands. Fallow land is estimated to be 5000 hectares and would grow further if agri-activities continue to remain an unattractive proposition. But, Goa State Horticulture Development Corporation Ltd, (GSHDC) believes its new scheme would work wonders and convince farmers to get back to farming. The proposed scheme aims to bring fallow land under cultivation and was recently approved by the Board of Directors of GSHDC, told Orlando Rodrigues, Managing Director, GSHDC. The unique scheme will allow GSHDC to take fallow land on lease from a willing landlord, and then lease it out to NGO or a group, on contract for ten years. Ideally, a group or an NGO will have to identify fallow land in the village and a willing landowner. The corporation would take fallow land on lease at the rate of 50 paise per meter for ten years and would give it on lease at Rupee 1 per metre to the NGO, told Rodrigues. The area of fallow land to be lease out on contract has to be minimum of two hectares, he added. The Corporation would also provide ground infrastructure facilities to the NGO. This arrangement will discard tenancy hassles. 'Land owners need not worry about their land being leased out to the Corporation. Besides, they would earn on their fallow land with zero investment and the contract would also enable them to retain infrastructure created after expiry of the lease period,' he said. While the scheme is still in the preliminary stage GSHDC is optimistic that it will make a difference to agriculture in Goa.
