Panaji: Goa agriculture department has predicted a good paddy production this season, as the state is having continuous rains required for good farming.
Goa has been witnessing rains without any dry patch since the last seven days and the heavy downpour is expected to continue for the next couple of days.
The rainfall crossed the 50 inch mark yesterday, according to Indian Meteorological Department, Goa, director K V Singh.
The paddy cultivation has received good response this year from the farmers as the state government has already announced minimum support price of Rs 17 per kg of paddy, agriculture director Satish Tendulkar said.
Goa has been producing good crop for the last two years due to favourable environmental conditions, Tendulkar said, adding that the trend will continue this year too considering the initial signs.
The state produced 110 lakh tonnes of paddy during the last rainy season in which almost 30,000-32,000 hectares of land was under cultivation. Around 70,000 farmers are engaged in this activity, Tendulkar said.
Parts of talukas like Sattari, Tiswadi, Bardez, Canacona, Salcette, Sanguem and others have been witnessing farming activity with the onset of monsoon.
The agriculture officers are already on the field interacting with the farmers providing them necessary support, Tendulkar said .
The state government has given importance to the agriculture sector by initiating various schemes for them, he added.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, July 04, 2012, 17:56