January 19, 2021
1 min read

Goa CM urges farmers to seek inspiration from Kerala

Lamenting the lack of innovation and interest in agriculture in Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday urged the local farmers to seek inspiration from Kerala’s jackfruit farmers.

While addressing a Water Resources department event here, Sawant said that Goa should emulate the jackfruit-based farm business model adopted in the Southern state, where powdered seeds of the pulpy fruit were now generating crores of rupees worth of business for their ability to control diabetes.

“A person in Kerala has discovered how jackfruit seed powder can be used for diabetes. The powder can control diabetes. He makes crores of rupees worth of business with that powder. He has started exporting it now,” Sawant said.

Contrasting the attitudes towards farming and labour in Karnataka and Goa, Sawant said that on the contrary, 95 per cent of the jackfruits grown in Goa are left to rot.

“And what do we do? 90… no we can accurately say 95 per cent of our jackfruits rot away. Not just rot, there are instances when ripe jackfruits fall on people, injuring them. This is our situation,” Sawant said.

“It (jackfruits) are 100 per cent organic. No one has fertilised it. We haven’t planted it either. Our forefathers have planted it. We never cared to plant these trees. Because our forefathers have planted them, we can still see these trees. I worry about the future generation, will they ever see a jackfruit?” Sawant lamented.

The Chief Minister also underlined the need for producing more vegetables, grain, dairy and poultry in Goa, adding that the state consumes much more than it produces.

“We have lost the culture of hard work. Goa needs 4.5 litre of milk everyday. On the contrary, we produce only 80,000 litres of milk daily. The rest is imported from other states,” Sawant said, while rooting for sustainable farming and innovative food processing techniques.

Also Read-Pak Approves Emergency Use Of Sinopharm Vaccine

Previous Story

Pak Approves Emergency Use Of Sinopharm Vaccine

Next Story

Rioter trying to ‘sell Pelosi’s laptop to Russians’ arrested

Latest from India News

Modi Lands in Malé for Big Day

PM Modi is visiting the Maldives at the invitation of President Muizzu to participate as the Guest of Honour at the country’s 60th Independence Day celebrations…reports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra

Industry Hails India-UK FTA

£34 billion boost, sweeping tariff cuts and market access mark UK’s most ambitious post-Brexit trade pact; Indian sectors set for exports surge…reports Asian Lite News Business leaders from both India and the

India, UK Sign Landmark FTA

The pact is set to make imported goods like Scotch whisky, gin, luxury cars, cosmetics, and medical devices more affordable for Indian consumers….reports Asian Lite News In a landmark moment for India-UK

Farmers Win Big in India-UK FTA

There is a massive gain for rural India and exporters with zero duty on processed foods compared with up to 70 per cent earlier….reports Asian Lite News The India-UK Free Trade Agreement
Go toTop