Swayampurna Goem - Farm Sector Interventions by NABARD in times of COVID-19

Low-cost poly house project  by NABARD- Goa

COVID-19 pandemic has caused reverse migration in the State as many people, especially youth of Goa were left jobless and Goa with its tourism centric service-sector economy was no exception. Low-cost poly house project initiated by NABARD came handy as it ensured livelihood opportunities for jobless youth and SHG members. 10 such nurseries were sanctioned by NABARD to

Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) covering five blocks of the State.

Ms Usha Ramesh, General Manager / OiC, Goa RO, Shri Vasant Savardekar, DGM and Shri Sushil Naik, DDM visited a few nurseries. Shri Dilip Paranjape, Project Director, ATMA and the Zonal Agriculture Officers of Pernem & Bardez Blocks coordinated the visit. Interaction with farmers revealed that the first cycle during the festive season of Dussehra and Diwali was very remunerative and with the logistics support of ATMA, they were to take up the nursery activities on an ongoing basis.

This unique livelihood project has helped attract youth to Agriculture and has provided them with livelihood options. The concept of Swayampurna Goem has been realized in the true sense as earlier the seedlings used to be sourced from Maharashtra and sold at double the prevailing price. The project has demonstrated the benefits of Farm Sector Interventions in times of COVID-19 through a project which can be replicated all over.