Locally grown vegetables and fruits supplied by local farmers have started entering the markets, and consumers can expect the best quality fruits and vegetables in the coming months, said a senior official of the GSHCL.
BY MICHAEL FISHER | NT
PANAJI: Locally grown vegetables and fruits supplied by local farmers have started entering the markets, and consumers can expect the best quality fruits and vegetables in the coming months, said a senior official of the Goa State Horticulture Corporation Ltd (GSHCL).
The managing director of GSHCL, Mr Orlando Rodrigues said that in accordance with the assurance given by the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat in the last assembly session that the government would procure locally grown vegetables, GSHCL has opened two collection centres - one at Valpoi and the other at Fatorpa, Quepem - to support the farmers so that they get remunerative prices for their produce.
"Although the farmers who had registered their names at the two centres are few, about 22, their number is expected to go up in due course of time as they need to get organised for a venture offering guaranteed returns. The procurement has already started and the Corporation is optimistic that more and more farmers will take advantage of the centres," Mr Rodrigues told ‘The Navhind Times.’
The vegetables presently procured by GSHCL are: pumpkin, ridge gourd, bottle gourd, lady finger, cucumber and long beans. The fruits procured by the Corporation are papayas and mash melons. He said the sale and response for these items at the Corporation’s retail outlets has been overwhelming. The minimum quantity from each farmer is five kilos.
Mr Rodrigues said GSHCL intends to assist the farmers by supplying them with the required inputs such as seeds, manures and even assisting the farmers in fencing their farm lands in case of farmers who plan to cultivate during the rabi season.
Assuring the farmers the marketing facility for their products through these collection centres, three more of such centres are to open soon at Keri in Satari, Canacona and at Old Goa. The registration process has been initiated by the zonal agriculture officers in these localities to make this venture a success, Mr Rodrigues said and added that by next month GSHCL will have a total of five collection centres.
