Goa being a small state is dependent on its neighboring states for milk, poultry and vegetables. Rice that is cultivated in the rains from June to September is the major crop followed by cereals like pulses and small millets. The areca nut, coconut, cashew are the other major plantation crops here and the garden crops include pineapple, mango, bananas and jackfruits. Also from the forest various types of barks and bamboo canes are harvested.
However even though one fourth of the population is sustained by agriculture in Goa, it contributes to only 15 to 16 percent to the income of the state. Due to rapid urbanization the availability of agricultural land is reducing. Also as 78 percent of the agricultural area is still rain fed, irrigation is insufficient and commercial farming is ruled out as 80 percent of land holdings are below 2 hectares and the sizes of the fields are small.
For high - quality planting material, nurseries and tissue - cultural laboratories are being promoted by the government. At Assonara, the Sagar Caju nursery is amongst the biggest in Asia. To recharge the groundwater table and to harvest rainwater, simple watershed techniques are being used.
The coastline of Goa is also rich in fishery resources where the local fishermen usually catch a variety of fish such as sharks, mackerels, sardines, seer fish, silver belly, pomfrets, butter fish, prawns, crabs and squids. Sometimes one can also see a lot of bamboo poles that jut out of the water. These actually have Fishing nets below the water line and when the water recedes through the net during the low tide, the fish are trapped.
The staple produce of Goa is Rice (Oriza Sativa) followed by coconut trees (Cocoa Nucifera) which accounts for variety of uses to which their products are applied. They grow abundantly in groves all along the coastal stretch of the state, at many places interspersed with horticultural plantations. Hilly places and inferior soils are used for cultivation of cereals and pulses as Nachne (Eleusine coracanal, Urid (Phaseolus radiatus), Culit (Dolichus uniflorus),Orio (Panicum miliaceum), Mug (Phaseolus mungo, and Tori (Cajanus indicus); or fruit trees, the most important of which are the mango (Mangifera indica), the jackfruit (Artocarpus integrifolia), the Cashew (Anacardium occidentale), and the Banana (Musa paradisiacal); of oil and fibrous plants, as Till (Sesamum indicum), Son (Crotolaria juncea); and of various kinds of vegetables, as Potatoes (Convolvulus batatas), Radishes (Raphanus sativus), Yams (Dioscrea sativa), Ladyfingers (Abelmoschus esculentus), Melons (Cucumis melo), watermelons (Cucurbita citrillus), cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo), bottle gourds (Cucurbita lagenaria), and Snake gourds (Trichosanthes anguina). Besides these, Chillies (Capsicum frutescens), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Onions (Allium Cepa), and certain vegetables of daily consumption are extensively cultivated in some villages.
Over the last few decades, although agriculture in Goa is in a state of steady decline, it is one of the dominant economic activities of the state. As per the government estimates for 2001-2002, out of the total reporting area of 36.11 lakh hectares, 13.93 lakh hectares of the area is sown. Further, as per the Economic Survey 2001 conducted by the state Government contribution of agriculture alongwith livestock to the net domestic product (ndp) of the state is only 15%. Such a decline from primary sector is attributed to static agricultural production, decline in fish catch, falling output from forest sector etc. Goa is heavily depending on neighboring states for food grains, cereals, vegetables, milk etc. The Salaulim dam provides irrigation to a command area of 11,749 hectares in south Goa. Anjunem irrigation project provides irrigation facilities to 2100 hectares. The Tillari dam, under construction, which is as a joint venture between the state of Goa and the State of Maharashtra is expected to irrigate 16,978 hectares of land in North Goa.
Major Plantation Crops
Cashew
Cashew is one of the largest plantation crops in Goa. They are grown on hilly sides, mixed with other vegetation or scattered on open pastures. The largest size is reported from Sattari, Bicholim and Bardez talukas. Cashew was introduced in Goa by the Portuguese during 16th Century basically as a soil conservation crop. Today a total of 44,520 hectares (28%) of the total crop area is under cashew plantation. About 10 lakh litres of cashew feni are produced annually which fetches the State of Goa around Rs. 80 - 90 lakhs / year.
Coconut
The second major plantation crop in Goa is the coconut. Most families in Goan villages rear coconut trees. The staple diet of Goans being Fish Curry & Rice, coconut curries are an essential ingredient of the daily diet and Goans are generally incapable of making curries without the use of coconut. Most sweets in Goa are generally made out of a mixture of rice and coconut. The other element of the coconut tree is that the toddy is used in the production of jaggery and vinegar as well as in the manufacture of feni, another variety of liquor.
Coconut is one of the nature's wonder trees and is responsible for a sustained generation of a varied number of biodegradable products, still largely used in the villages. Besides oil and oilcakes, which are fed to the animals, the trees produce fibres for ropes and matting. Coconut tree trunk is used to make rafters for roofs. Leaves both dry and green are used for making baskets and thatches to protect Goan homes, particularly windows and balcaos during heavy monsoon. The ribs of the leaves are used to produce brooms.
Arecanut
The area under arecanut is around 2000 hectares and almost half of it is in Ponda Taluka. The areca palm is much more delicate than the coconut tree. It requires abundant irrigation during the hot summer months and could therefore be beneficially cultivated in kulagars. Areca is basically a shade loving tree and grows best in the company of other fruit bearing trees.
Other plantations
Other plantation crops grown in Goa are the bamboo, the banana and mango. Bhirand / kokum is also an important plantation crop which forms a part of daily diet. It is used as a garnish to give an acidic taste to curries and vegetable as well as in the preparation of cooling kokum syrup during the hot summer months.
Toddy Tappers
The toddy tapping community is one of the major occupational groups in Goa. It secures its livelihood by tapping toddy from coconut trees, distilling into liquor known as feni and selling it to the public. The toddy is collected twice or thrice daily from the tree and is distilled later. Distilling involves a shed on distillery locally known as 'batti' using certain typical vessels for distilling.
There are nearly 6000 tappers in the state at present. Tapping the unopened flower bunch (spadix) of the palm for the extraction of toddy is a common practice in most parts where coconut is cultivated. Tapping in Goa is normally done by slicing of the apex of the unopened spadix gradually and beating it with a tapping rod everyday to rupture the cells and induce the flow of the sap or juice. It is usual to tap successive infloresence in a tree for about 6 months. Trees which yield a large number of nuts also yield a large quantity of juice. Tapping is found to improve the yield of nuts of poor bearing palms. The juice can be converted into sweet or fermented toddy. Vinegar, jaggery or sugar or arrack can also be made from the juice.
Kumeri Cultivation
In Goa, shifting cultivation is locally known as 'Kumeri' and it is this form of agriculture that is largely responsible for producing Goa's output of nachne, other millets and pulses. However, agriculturally trained farmers, scientists or foresters condemn kumeri cultivation as ecologically damaging and sustained effort have been made by the forest and Agriculture department to discontinue such cultivation.
There are basically 5 stages in Kumeri cultivation. Felling an area of forests, fixing the dead vegetation, planting or sowing seeds without the plough, weeding; and eventually harvesting. Though virgin forests give higher yields, kumeri cultivation prefers a secondary forest for cultivation. This is because clearing primary forest is quite an dangerous task, requiring more manpower and demanding a larger drying period for the felled vegetation.
In Goa, Kumeri cultivation became a problem for 2 reasons. First, during Portuguese regime, large chunk of hilly areas have been declared as forests and later by the Goa government thus reducing drastically the Kumeri cycles of the tribals. Secondly forest Department cleared felled forest with in the non-protected areas and converted these to monoculture species of eucalyptus and teak, thereby affecting forest availability to Kumeri cultivation. The elimination of Kumeri cultivation has led to a drastic decline in the availability of millets like nachne which have remained the traditional diet of the economically unprivileged population in Goa.
Awadhis of Madkai
In Goa, Madkai village in Ponda Taluka of North Goa district has a peculiar feature as far as agricultural practice is concerned. The history of these mud heaps, locally known as Awadhi, does not go beyong 80-90 years.
The interpretation of local farmers is that inputs like cow dung and dry fish manure when used in bulk create an imbalance in the water-field level. To regain the earlier level, excess soil has to be removed. As such, every year some excess soil is removed bringing this field on par with the water level (tank/stream). This flattered tops of Awadhi's are utilized to grow vegetables and bananas. However, Awadhi's has proved to be uneconomical for farmers as it has consumed a major part of their paddy fields.
Goa, situated between the Arabian Sea and Western Ghats is an agriculturally backward state of the country due to its geographic location. The state has very less cultivable land to produce food grains for its people. The coastal areas are not suitable for cultivation while the inland areas do not produce much. However, the government has done much to improve the production. Apart from its own production, Goa depends on neighboring states Maharashtra and Karnataka to fulfill its demand.
Paddy is the major agricultural crop in Goa followed by ragi, cashew and coconut. The important crops are ragi, maize, jowar, bajra and pulses. Cash crops like coconut, cashew-nut, arecanut, mango, jackfruit, banana, pineapple are also grown in abundance. Cashew is an important crop in Goa. An invigorating drink, Feni is made from cashew. A variety of mangoes like Xavier, alfonsa, and mussarade are also grown. The main sources of irrigation for winter crops are the nallahs, rivers and streams, tanks, wells and canals. A sizeable population of Goa depends on fishing. It is an important part of Goa’s economy.
Vegetables also form a part of Goa’s agricultural output. Seasonal vegetables like brinjal, lady's fingers, radish, cucumber, pumpkins, drumsticks, breadfruit and sweet potatoes, chillies and onions are produced in good quantity. Industry
Mining is one of the principal source of Goa's industrial and trade development and offers considerable scope for employment. Mineral resources are an asset of Goa and iron ore is a leading commodity. Other minerals include manganese ore and ferro-manganese ore which are produced and exported, but iron ore occupies the pride of place in Goa's economy. Some of the most productive and important mines are located in the northern and eastern parts of Goa.
There are units manufacturing a variety of items like pesticides, fertilizers, tyres and tubes, iron ore pellets, foot wear, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, sugar, wheat products, steel rolling, fruits and fish canning, cashew nuts, textiles, brewery products etc. There are handicrafts units mainly engaged in the manufacture of wood, crafts, brass, pottery, handloom, leather and bamboo crafts etc.
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Agriculture
Agriculture is one of the important economic activities in Goa. Goa has done much to improve and develop its agriculture so that it becomes more productive and the farmers who work on the field get a better return for their labour. Rice along with fish is the staple diet of the people and it is also a principal agricultural crop. The important crops grown are paddy, ragi, maize, jowar, bajra and pulses. Cash crops like coconut, cashew-nut, arecanut, mango, jackfruit, banana, pineapple etc. are also grown in abundance. Sugarcane cultivation has been taken up only recently and a sugar factory has also been set up in Goa.
Paddy is the principal crop of Goa. There are two paddy seasons, namely Kharif or sorod and the rabi or vaingan. The monsoon crops are called the kharif or sorod crops and the winter crops are called rabi or vaingan crops. The main sources of irrigation for winter crops are the nallahs, rivers and streams, tanks, wells, canal etc. Crops grown in the Kharif season consist of paddy, ragi (locally called nachani) and some pulses. Crops grown in the rabi season are comprised of paddy, pulses like horse-gram (kulith), black gram (udid), a variety of beans and some vegetables.
Cashew is an important crop in Goa. An exhilarating drink called Feni is produced from cashew. It is a kind of gin or vodka.
A variety of mangoes are grown in Goa. Some of the famous Mango varieties are mancurade, mussarade, fernandine, xavier, alfonsa, colaco etc. There are two varieties of jackfruit grown here namely kapo (hard) and rasal (soft).
The kind of vegetables grown in the Goa are brinjal, lady's fingers, radish, cucumber, pumpkins, drumsticks, breadfruit and different varieties of gourds. Sweet potatoes, chillies, onions are also available.
Animal Husbandry
The animal husbandry and the veterinary services form an important sector of rural economy. Cattle feed, milk products, meat etc were imported on a large scale. There was one cattle farm at Dhat in Goa district having an important herd of Sindhi cows and a small poultry farm at Tonca, Panaji.
A Piggery farmwas also functioning at Curti in Ponda latuka to produce qualitative pigs for their distribution to farmers for breeding. Large white-York-shire and other improved breeds of pigs were maintained at this farm.
Fishing formed an important economic activity of the Goa. The Goa is abounded in rich marine and inland fisheries potential which consisted mainly of prawns, one of the most important foreign exchange earning commodity and commercially important shoaling fish like mackerels and sardines. Agriculture
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Agriculture is the production, processing, marketing, and use of foods, fibers and byproducts from plantcrops and animals.[1] Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of human civilization, with thehusbandry of domesticated animals and plants (i.e. crops) creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more densely populated and stratified societies. The study of agriculture is known asagricultural science. Agriculture is also observed in certain species of ant and termite.[2][3]
Agriculture encompasses a wide variety of specialties and techniques, including ways to expand the lands suitable for plant raising, by digging water-channels and other forms of irrigation. Cultivation of crops on arable land and the pastoral herding of livestock on rangeland remain at the foundation of agriculture. In the past century there has been increasing concern to identify and quantify various forms of agriculture. In the developed world the range usually extends between sustainable agriculture (e.g. permaculture or organic agriculture) and intensive farming (e.g. industrial agriculture).
Modern agronomy, plant breeding, pesticides and fertilizers, and technological improvements have sharply increased yields from cultivation, but at the same time have caused widespread ecological damage and negative human health effects.[4] Selective breeding and modern practices in animal husbandry such asintensive pig farming (and similar practices applied to the chicken) have similarly increased the output ofmeat, but have raised concerns about animal cruelty and the health effects of the antibiotics, growth hormones, and other chemicals commonly used in industrial meat production.[5]
The major agricultural products can be broadly grouped into foods, fibers, fuels, and raw materials. In the 21st century, plants have been used to grow biofuels, biopharmaceuticals, bioplastics,[6] and pharmaceuticals.[7]Specific foods include cereals, vegetables, fruits, and meat. Fibers include cotton, wool, hemp, silk and flax.Raw materials include lumber and bamboo. Other useful materials are produced by plants, such as resins. Biofuels include methane from biomass, ethanol, and biodiesel. Cut flowers, nursery plants, tropical fish and birds for the pet trade are some of the ornamental products.
In 2007, one third of the world's workers were employed in agriculture. The services sector has overtaken agriculture as the economic sector employing the most people worldwide.[8] Despite the size of its workforce, agricultural production accounts for less than five percent of the gross world product (an aggregate of allgross domestic products).
Agriculture in Goa is one of the important economic activities in the state. Located between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, Goa faces problems for enough cultivable land to feed its own population.The coastal areas are exposed to salinity and do not qualify as good agricultural areas, while the inland areas are not productive enough. So for its day-to-day needs of agricultural produce like vegetables, Goa is dependent on Karnataka and Maharashtra. However, approximately one-third of the total land in Goa falls under forest areas and yields substantial profits.
The government, however, has done much to improve and develop agriculture in Goa to make it more productive, thus enabling the farmers to get a better return for their labor. Rice and fish being the staple diet of the people, paddy becomes the principal crop in the scenario of agriculture in Goa. The important crops, apart from paddy, are ragi, maize, jowar, bajra and pulses. Cash crops like coconut, cashew-nut, arecanut, mango, jackfruit, banana, pineapple are also grown in abundance. Cashew is an important crop in Goa. A kind of intoxicating drink called Feni is produced from cashew. Sugarcane cultivation has been taken up only recently and a sugar factory has also been set up in Goa. A variety of mangoes are grown in Goa. Some of the famous Mango varieties are mancurade, mussarade, fernandine, xavier, alfonsa, colaco. There are two varieties of jackfruit grown here namely kapo (hard) and rasal (soft).
The vegetables that form a part of the agriculture in Goa are brinjal, lady's fingers, radish, cucumber, pumpkins, drumsticks, breadfruit and different varieties of gourds. Sweet potatoes, chillies, onions are also available.
Paddy being the principal crop of Goa, it is grown in two seasons, namely Kharif or sorod and the rabi or vaingan. The monsoon crops are called the kharif crops and the winter crops are called rabi crops. The main sources of irrigation for winter crops are the nallahs, rivers and streams, tanks, wells and canals. Crops grown in the Kharif season consist of paddy, ragi (locally called nachani) and some pulses. Crops grown in the rabi season are comprised of paddy, pulses like horse-gram (kulith), black gram (udid), a variety of beans and some vegetables.
The forest produce too makes up a significant part of the agriculture in Goa. The Government forest area is approximately around 1224.38 sq. kms, besides this, the forest land owned by private people and institutions is around 200 sq. kms. The important forests products are bamboo canes, Maratha barks, chillar barks and bhirand. The area planted under forest is 1424.38 sq. kilometers.
Agriculture in Goa is one of the important economic activities in the state. Goa faces problems for enough cultivable land to feed its own population. The major crop is paddy rice. The following site will give you complete information on agriculture in Goa.
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