Goa has all the ingredients to emerge as a model of growth, opportunity and achievement, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Friday, describing the state as a place where “growth and glory”, “opportunity and optimism” and “aspirations and achievement” come together.
The minister was addressing the ‘Seva Ki Kahani – Atmanirbhar Bharat – Swayampurna Goa’ programme organised by the Goa government to celebrate the spirit of self-reliance, service and rural development, at Betoda, Ponda.
“G stands for Growth and Glorious, O for Opportunity and Optimism, while A stands for Aspirations and Achievement. Swayampurna Goa is reflected in these three words,” the Union Minister said.
At the event, the minister also launched the ‘Goa Fresh’ brand, describing it as an important step towards giving Goa’s agricultural produce a distinct identity and expanding its recognition. “Goa Fresh is an important step towards giving a new identity to Goa’s agricultural products,” he said, highlighting the state’s natural advantages for farming.
“Goa’s soil, land, climate and adequate rainfall are extremely favourable for agriculture. Coconut, cashew and spices are the identity of Goa’s agricultural wealth. While Goa is a small state geographically, its potential is much larger,” he said and assured that the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave no stone unturned in transforming the agriculture of Goa and will not allow any shortage of funds for the farmers.
The Union minister also praised the state’s development trajectory, referring to it as “Golden Goa” and saying the progress being made in the state was drawing appreciation from across the country. “On one hand, the BJP government is building a Golden Goa, and on the other, the entire country is saying, ‘Well done Goa’,” he said. The minister said Goa’s development experience offered lessons for others. “Goa is doing very well, and the world needs to learn from it,” he said.
Referring to the state’s political and development history, the minister said the foundation laid by former chief minister Manohar Parrikar had been carried forward under Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.
“Parrikar ji laid the foundation of Goa’s development, and now CM Pramod Sawant ji has built a palace of development on that foundation,” he said. He cited Goa’s roads, flyovers and governance as examples of the state’s development, saying, “Everywhere here, one can see good governance.”
Addressing the gathering, Shripad Naik, Union Minister of State for Power, New and Renewable Energy, said every section of society has contributed towards the mission of Swayampurna Goa. “For transforming the mission into reality, large-scale employment opportunities have been created, besides the launch of various schemes for farmers, rural youth, women and small entrepreneurs. With the collective efforts of all, we will soon be a self-reliant state,” he said.
The programme, held under the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, showcased initiatives aimed at strengthening agriculture, rural livelihoods, entrepreneurship and community-led development across Goa. Alongside the launch of Goa Fresh, the programme included the launch of the FPO Policy, signing of an MoU between the National Institute of Hydrology and the Directorate of Agriculture, Goa, and distribution of agricultural subsidies.
The event, which also marked the sixth anniversary of ‘Swayampurna Goa’ initiative, also featured the launch of the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme, felicitation of Lakhpati Didis, financial assistance through bank loans to self-help groups, seed-capital support to food enterprises under the PM-FME scheme, sanction of pink electric rickshaws to SHG members and support for integrated farming clusters.
Dr Pramod Sawant, Goa Chief Minister, was also present at the event, along with Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; MLAs and officials from various government departments.
Earlier, as part of Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, participated in a cleanliness drive KTC Bus Stand, Ponda, along with the diginitaries and students of PES Ravi Naik College of Arts and Science, Farmagudi, Ponda.
