Eye on self-sustenance, econ panel for massive push to agri in Goa

Murari Shetye | TNN | May 1, 2020, 04:05 IST

Panaji: The state’s economic revival committee, in its final report submitted to the government on Thursday, has laid maximum thrust on boosting agricultural and allied activities to make Goa self-sufficient. It has recommended that taxi operators, who have been considerably affected due to the slump in tourism and the Covid-19 pandemic, be integrated with the agriculture sector to supply items to farmers and transport their produce to markets or horticulture outlets.
The committee has also suggested that taxi operators be integrated with e-commerce operators.
Goa could take the lead in pioneering urban farming in the country, the committee has said, by using growbags on open terraces of housing colonies, open spaces around schools and colleges, government buildings and high-rise buildings. It has also suggested backyard poultry/duck-rearing, as per feasibility.
Hi-tech agriculture like aquaponics, aeroponics, vertical farming, etc, could be encouraged as part of peri-urban/urban farming, it said, even as it recommended the setting up of an agro park and revival of agriculture in fallow lands with lessee farmers.
Reduction in interest rates to ensure survival of industries, resumption of mining and boosting hinterland tourism are among the other measures that have been recommended.
The 16-member committee has stated in its report that there is an urgent need to revisit the strengthening of Goa’s manufacturing industry. As far as the IT sector and startups are concerned, it has pushed for the promotion of home-grown startups to attract investment into Goa. Convincing established startups from around India to shift base to Goa would also help the ecosystem grow, it has said.
With regard to e-governance for ease of doing business, the committee, headed by industrialist Shivanand Salgaocar, has recommended administrative reforms like creating a department of telecommunication and electronics and a department of education, human resource development and skill development by merging the existing ones.
It has further suggested that the department of factories and boilers be merged with the department of industry and that the finance department’s PPP cell be converted into a full-fledged PPP investment cell.
Raising concerns that Goa has an approximate migrant population of three lakh, the committee has recommended that the government finalise the state population policy at the earliest. “We need to carefully devise value chains of labour and ensure that no new influx takes place that will create immense pressure on the stressed social infrastructure besides creating a major impact on the state’s identity and demography,” the committee has said.
It has sought that the National Disaster Management Authority extend the moratorium for the repayment of any kind of loans from the present three months to six months for regular industries, and 12 months for the tourism industry.
The committee also wants the government to urge the Centre to amend legislation for resumption of mining activities.
Pitching for tourism in Goa to be made more inclusive, it has sought development of the hinterlands for eco-tourism, village tourism, adventure tourism, forest tourism, cultural tourism, among others.
“Goa needs tourism based on carrying capacity and regulated with quality and class tourism, rather than mass scale with more ecological footprints putting stress on resources. Going beyond beaches, knowledge-based eco-tourism, agro eco-tourism, mangrove/crocodile safaris and nature trails in a regulated way for ecological sustainability involving locals with trained eco-guides should be promoted,” the committee has said.
It has recommended that the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) be strengthened so as to make it the lead institution in financing economic development in the state.
It has also said that the government set up a task force to redefine economic growth and the Centre’s Sagarmala project.