Goa's vast saline land stretches to be revived for farming

The vast tracks of saline floodplains along Goa's tidal estuaries, which have been rendered non-fertile, will be taken up for revival through an ambitious agricultural development mission launched by the Centre, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said today.
"There are almost 18,000 hectares of 'khajan' land (saline floodplains along Goa's tidal estuaries) which have been abandoned due to breaching of bunds (mini dams) resulting in they getting flooded with saline water," he told reporters after presiding over a Cabinet meeting here.
The state has decided to take up the task of strengthening bunds, desilting of ponds and protecting 'khajan' land under National Agricultural Development Mission (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna), he said.

The Government has identified 38 bunds covering a 85 km stretch (and protecting 4,500 hectares out of the 18,000 ha) of 'khajan' land for repair and fortification, Parsekar said.
A team of five junior engineers and seven supervisors have been formed to work on this project that will "change the face of farming activity in the State, he said.
The Chief Minister said a sum of Rs 1.92 crore has been earmarked for the purpose which will be supported by framing policies that encourage contract farming in Goa.
Besides farming, agriculturists would be encouraged to take up crab/fish cultivation, he added.