Reviving Agriculture in Goa -Soter

The latest amendment to ‘The Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act’ to provide for ‘contract farming’ in Goa assumes much significance in context of the United Nations dedicating the Year 2014 as the ‘International Year for Family Farming’ (IYFF). Though news reports claim that the latest amendment to the Goa Agriculture Tenancy Act has brought much cheer to the farming fraternity, it would be prudent to exercise caution, particularly when there is no participatory approach adopted by the Government before rolling out such policies and enacting laws. The motive behind enacting such laws, which so to say, gets pulled out of the hat and hurriedly enacted without scope for public debate, usually get manifested much later, but not before the damage has already been done.

In an era when there appears to be more interest shown by the Goa Government for promoting ‘industrial farming’ or ‘corporate farming’, such agriculture policies laced with terms like ‘collective farming’ and ‘contract farming’ should arouse suspicion. In the run up to this amendment there has been a systematic propaganda that small land holdings are not profitable and in fact such a view has been reflected in the Government’s schemes which have almost nothing for those who possess less than one acre of land. With many politicians having a ‘conflict of interest’ when it comes to real estate and farming, such a proposal for ‘contract farming’ needs to be weighed carefully. The consequences of such a policy as ‘contract farming’ could act more as a front for real estate in the guise of farming with loop holes provided in other Acts that permit construction of farm houses and such other activities. It should not be the case wherein the remedy itself becomes the cause for the malady. While the realisation world over is that encouraging family farming and small agricultural land holdings are the sustainable options for tackling poverty and hunger, the Government of Goa has been advocating the reverse.

Goa’s traditional village communes were about small land holdings and family farming. The once lush green fields that adorned the plains and hills across the length and breadth of Goa, particularly during the monsoon season, has been the contribution of the Communidade system. If we are to draw parallels from Senator Gaylord Nelsons’ arguments in defence of Family Farming in America, we could also claim that ‘family farming was the seedbed of Goan culture for most part of Goa’s history.’ It may never have provided an easy life but it definitely provided a good life and generated an environment of independence, industry, hard work, foresight and cooperation. Family Farms were a ‘business, job and a set of family relationships.’

Nowadays, the global realisation that small land holders and family farmers are the key to reducing poverty and improving global food security is slowly gaining ground.  In fact, Pope John XXIII was prophetic when his Encyclical titled ‘Mater et Magistra’ in the year 1961 had strongly advocated the promotion of Family Farming. Fifty years later, the U.N. aims at paving the way for more inclusive and sustainable approaches to agricultural and rural development that recognize the importance of small holder and family farmers for sustainable development. It seeks to place ‘small-scale farming at the centre of national, regional and global agricultural, environmental and social policies, and elevate the role of smallholder farmers as agents for alleviating rural poverty and ensuring food security for all; as stewards who manage and protect natural resources; and as drivers of sustainable development.’

The latest piece-meal approach adopted by the Goa Government to encourage growth of agriculture in the State could well turn out to be a futile exercise. The Goa Agriculture Tenancy Act was probably just a fraction of the problem that actually triggered a slump in agriculture activity. It is more the archaic Land Revenue Code and the TCP Act coupled with the lack of visionary and holistic development policies in Goa which have been the primary cause for decline of agriculture. Indiscriminate industrialisation, destruction of eco-systems and increased pollution levels have also had a direct impact resulting in low agriculture yields, increased investment costs and human resource crisis. In fact, the agriculture schemes in the State have catered more to the interests of feudal land-lords than to the small farmers and agriculture labour force. Added to this were the loop holes provided in the laws and the Regional Plan for keeping agriculture land fallow to obtain land use conversion and cash in on the real estate boom.

Therefore, it is necessary to debate whether the latest move by the Goa Government to revive agriculture by facilitating contract farming is in sync with the current global approach of sustainable agriculture for combating hunger and poverty through promotion of small agriculture land holders and family farming? With the latest mechanised mode of farming being controlled by a bunch of powerful local politicians, is an agriculture mafia fast emerging to pressurise the small time farmer into contracting his land for industrialised farming?

(The edited version of this article published in the Herald on 11th September 20014)

read at:
http://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/Middle/Reviving-agriculture-in-Goa/78295.html