Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said in the assembly on Monday that 90% of the funds required for all infrastructure needs of community farmlands of a minimum of two lakh sqm will be put in by the state. Farmers will be required to put in only 10% of the funds for infrastructure like fencing etc, he said, and urged legislators to bring more land within their respective jurisdictions under community farming.Sawant said he will instruct zonal agriculture officers to facilitate the provision of aid to community farmers.“The aid will cover 90% of the costs, not just for paddy farmers, but for vegetable and all other farmers. It will not be a one-time aid. It will be continued,” Sawant told the House.The discussion took place during a calling attention motion by legislator Deviya Rane who said govt needs to provide infrastructure support schemes to cover costs of fencing, irrigation facilities and agricultural machinery. She said this is especially required to help small, marginal farmers engaged in paddy and vegetable cultivation in Sattari.Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said many farmers do not own the land, and, at times, cultivate comunidade land, which makes it difficult for them to meet the criteria for availing various govt schemes for farmers. Several MLAs pointed out that this makes Krishi cards irrelevant for them.The CM said it will be ensured that aid for community farmers will be provided even if they cultivate alvara, comunidade or other land where they do not hold rights. He said it is tricky providing assistance in such cases for smaller land holdings, and therefore urged legislators to help farmers operate as community farmers wherever possible.
