Panaji: Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte, representing Porvorim constituency, said that politics is gradually usurping the farming sector and “we need to be united at this time and not allow politics to creep in.”
Speaking after launching harvester service, Khaunte said the harvester machine is a boon for farmers as it eases the harvesting task.
Socorro ZP member Vaishali Satardekar, ZP member Gupesh Naik, sarpanch Swapnil Chodankar, sarpanch of Salvador do Mundo Sandeep Salgaonkar were present among others.
Addressing a large gathering of farmers, Khaunte recalled initiatives that were taken to help the farmers in Socorro and Salvador do Mundo villages of Porvorim constituency.
“There were only 40-50 farmers cultivating farmlands, but now we have 1,500 farmers undertaking cultivation and mechanisation has made their task easy. Steps initiated some 10 years ago are bearing the fruits now,” he said.
On COVID situation in the state, he said the COVID pandemic has created a huge challenge of unemployment, but at the same time the youth are showing inclination towards farming. “Horticulture is also being looked at as a lucrative activity,” he said.
The MLA said that tractors and harvesting machine service will help reduce farmers’ hardships.
“We need actual action at the ground level. It is now the responsibility of panchayats, ZP members and MLAs to work together,” he added.