Farmers from Kamataka are in a bind after the Goa government said it would cultivate its own vegetables and fruits in order to be self-reliant. On September 27, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reiterated that the government will stop purchasing vegetables from neighboring states.
According to Sawant, intercropping could help the Goa, which is at present dependent on other states for supply of vegetables. "We have started a 'buy back' system in Horticulture Corporation. Henceforth, let us stop importing vegetables from other states and release subsidies to Goan farmers, which is now given to farmers from other states," he stated.
This could have an adverse impact on farmers from Kamataka's northern districts, that depend on Goa's market for their livelihood. A wholesale vegetable vendor attached to the government agricultural produce market committee (APMC) in Kangrali B.K. stated: "About 50 trucks from Belagavi, Chikkodi, Sankeshwar, Gokak, and Ghataprabha from Belagavi district supply about 12 to 15 tons of vegetables daily to Goa. About 120 traders in Belagavi district supply vegetables to 1,300 agents in Goa."
Goa procures 750 tons of vegetables daily from Karnataka, so hundreds of farmers in Belagavi who grow vegetables may land in trouble if Goa stops getting horticultural produce from the state.
Source: deccanherald.com