With ‘vegfast’ tech Goa can reduce dependence on other states for vegetables, says Experts

PANAJI: The vegfast technology has the potential to increase vegetable production in coastal regions, said experts from the ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (CCARI), Old Goa.
Developed by ICAR-Central potato research station, Jalandhar, this technology for urban gardening has scope in Goa where healthy and fresh vegetables can be grown on terraces, balconies and rooftops of housing societies as well as restaurants, hotels and beach front properties.
A webinar on the subject conducted by ICAR-CCARI was attended by 100 stakeholders including officials from the directorate of agriculture, vegetable-growers from Goa and other coastal districts, resident welfare association members, besides ICAR scientists and staff from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
ICAR-CCARI director, Dr Parveen Kumar stressed on the need for such technologies to make Goa self-reliant in vegetable production and reduce its dependence on Karnataka and Maharashtra. Former director at ICAR-Central potato research institute, Shimla, Dr SK Pandey emphasised the initiation of vegfast technology on a pilot project mode in Goa along with ICAR-CCARI.