Goa Chief Minister Launches State Agricultural Policy 2025
Panaji : Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant launched the Goa State Amritkal Agricultural Policy 2025, a landmark initiative aimed at revolutionizing agriculture in the state. The policy launch event was attended by Agriculture Minister Shri Ravi Naik, MLA Shri Premendra Vishnu Shet, Secretary (Agriculture) Shri Arun Kumar Mishra, IAS, and Director of Agriculture Shri Sandeep Faldesaai.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Dr. Sawant emphasized the importance of preserving Goa’s agricultural heritage while integrating modern farming techniques to enhance productivity and sustainability. “This policy will strengthen Goa’s agricultural sector by promoting innovation, sustainability, and economic growth for our farmers,” he stated.
Key Highlights of the Policy:
1. Ban on Field Conversion: To protect agricultural land, the policy prohibits converting fields categorized as ‘rice’, ‘morad’, ‘kher’, and ‘khazan’ for non-agricultural purposes.
2. Promotion of High-Value Crops: The government aims to boost cash crops like cashew, mango, and arecanut while introducing new crops such as avocado, rambutan, grapefruit, and pomelo to diversify agricultural income.
3. Encouraging Modern Farming Techniques: The policy promotes organic farming, hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics, urban agriculture, and vertical farming, making agriculture more efficient and environment-friendly.
4. Strict Action Against Pollution: The Goa State Pollution Control Board will impose penalties for discharging sewage into agricultural land and water bodies, ensuring the protection of soil and water resources.
5. Financial Incentives for Farmers: The policy offers subsidies for infrastructure setup, land lease incentives, tax exemptions, and fast-track approvals for vertical farming projects.
The Agriculture Department will oversee the implementation of the policy in collaboration with government agencies, private stakeholders, and farming communities. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance agricultural sustainability, boost farmers’ incomes, and ensure Goa’s food security.
With the introduction of this forward-thinking policy, Goa takes a major step towards a more resilient and technologically advanced agricultural sector.
