PANAJI, 13 February 2025: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has announced a new initiative, the Goa Amritkal Agriculture Policy, aimed at preserving the state's agricultural heritage.
A key component of this policy is a strict ban on converting agricultural land, particularly paddy fields, for non-agricultural purposes such as residential or commercial development.
Sawant emphasized the government's commitment to maintaining Goa's green landscape, stating that existing laws already prohibit the conversion of paddy land, regardless of any town and country planning department designations.
This move comes as Goa experiences a surge in construction, driven by demand for holiday homes. The 2023 law prohibiting the sale of agricultural land to non-agriculturists and for non-agricultural use further underscores the government's dedication to safeguarding the state's lush green paddy fields and forested hillsides.
The Amritkal policy defines rice lands using local terms like "morod," "ker," and "khazans," ensuring that these specific types of land, as recorded in revenue documents, are protected from conversion. Beyond preservation, the policy also aims to modernize farming practices to increase productivity and sustainability. It promotes resilient farming techniques to mitigate the effects of climate change and aims to revive traditional "khazan" cultivation.
While approximately 40% of Goa's land is agricultural, only 10% is available for construction. The remaining land comprises forests, coastal areas, and water bodies. The new policy also seeks to boost agro-tourism, allowing farmers with at least 4,000 square meters of land to participate, with designated zones for such activities.
Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik reiterated the policy's goal of supporting farmers in continuing their agricultural practices, thereby preserving Goa's agricultural heritage. While some, like Elsa Fernandes of the Khazan Society of Goa, acknowledge the policy's good intentions, they stress the importance of effective implementation and a bottom-up approach to address the long-standing challenges in the agricultural sector.
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