PANAJI: Farmers in the state are set to get a lucrative price for their yield. The directorate of agriculture has started procuring locally grown vegetables from them and have also fixed a new minimum purchase price for the vegetables for this financial year. The new prices supersede the previous prices fixed in 2011 and covers a total of 25 crops.
“After fixing the average cost of cultivation, we have fixed the procurement price at 150% of the average cost of cultivation,” director of agriculture, Nevil Alphonso told TOI. “For instance if a farmer must invest Rs10 to produce one kilogram of ladyfinger, the price fixed for the farmer is a minimum of Rs15,” he said.
Earlier, the prices were fixed based on the rates quoted by farmers in Belagavi. However, since not all farmers are able to fetch a good price for their crop, which puts a dent in their profits despite a good yield, the department has fixed its own procurement rates based on the average cost of cultivation of vegetables in Goa.
Farmers can avail of this benefit by registering their yield with the zonal agricultural office in their respective jurisdiction. The Goa state horticulture corporation limited (GSHCL) has procurement centres in every taluka in the state. Vegetables sourced from local farmers will be distributed through its 1,200-odd outlets across Goa to end consumers.
Besides various vegetables, this list for the first time also includes the raw jackfruit and the banana flower bud, both of which are consumed as vegetables. The minimum purchase price fixed for the raw jackfruit crop is Rs24 while that of the banana flower bud is Rs17. In addition, the directorate has also distributed seeds of several vegetables among the local farmers at a subsidised 50% rate to encourage cultivation of greens in the state.
