Goa Government Increases Farm Subsidies and Support Prices to Boost Agriculture

The Goa government has announced a significant increase in farm subsidies and revised the price assurance for paddy to better assist local farmers, according to Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik during an assembly session on Friday.

Responding to a query from BJP MLA Kedar Naik, Minister Naik detailed a series of initiatives aimed at boosting farm productivity while cutting costs. These measures include a 50 percent subsidy for field operations like ploughing and harvesting, utilizing governmental or custom-hired machinery. Farmers also benefit from a 50 percent subsidy on high-yield seeds and resilient salt-tolerant variants, revitalizing khazan lands.

The new subsidy structure provides SC/ST farmers with 75 percent support for fertilizers, extends to all farmers for pesticides and fungicides, and offers 50 percent support for organic inputs. The government is also facilitating the acquisition of farming machinery such as tractors and weed cutters, with varying subsidies between 50 and 75 percent. Furthermore, an assured paddy price of Rs 2 per kg above the MSP is now available, alongside compensations for climate-related damages, underlining the government's commitment to strengthening rural agricultural frameworks.

(With inputs from agencies.)