The drafting committee of the Goa State Amritkal Agriculture Policy, 2024, led by its chairman & scientist, and public policy expert Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, presented the policy to Agriculture Minister Ravi S. Naik. The committee under Chairmanship of Naik reconstituted in May 2023 to finalise the Goa Agriculture Policy, convened in the presence of the member secretary of the committee and Director of Agriculture (DOA), Nevil Alphonso.
The esteemed members of the drafting committee present for the function included the Principal of Goa College of Agriculture, Dr. Suresh Kunkalikar, Adv. Yatish Naik, Ex-minister Prakash S. Velip, Shrirang Jambhale, ex-Director of Agriculture Satish Tendulkar, and member secretary of the drafting committee Rena Menezes, Deputy Director of Agriculture, DOA.
The Minister stated that as per administrative norms, the policy document, under embargo until its approval, would be presented before the cabinet. Subject to its approval, it would be notified in the official State Gazette, becoming a public document available in Konkani and Marathi.
Describing the unique process adopted for formulating the policy, the Minister highlighted the initiative taken by former CM Manohar Parrikar to prepare the State Agriculture policy. The committee was constituted on August 9, 2012, under ex-MP Adv. Narendra Sawaikar, who resigned after being elected to Lok Sabha on April 3, 2014. Following a hiatus, the Minister reconstituted the committee on May 24, 2023, involving stakeholders and experts to ensure a farmer-centric and participative policy-making process. Public suggestions were invited on July 14, 2023, with the deadline extended until September 17, 2023. The committee was granted an extension until March 31, 2024, to conclude the process.
A completely decentralised approach was adopted, allowing extensive public participation. The Minister facilitated special gramsabhas in 190 village panchayats, receiving suggestions from 39 panchayats. Several suggestions were received and considered by five sub-committees comprising experts. Following international and national guidelines, the sub-committees identified 36 core areas for incorporation into the policy document, totaling approximately 150 pages. This marks the successful conclusion of a policy-making process suspended until 2014.
The designation of the Goa State Agriculture Policy as the Goa State Amritkal Agriculture Policy, 2024, is a strategic initiative aligning with the vision of Amritkal, aiming towards India’s centenary of Independence in 2047. This period symbolises a transformative era, during which India endeavours to become a fully developed nation. The alignment of state policies with Amritkal’s vision is crucial for comprehensive progress and development across all sectors, including agriculture, pivotal to India’s economy and societal fabric.
This policy has been deduced by involving thousands of people and farmers in an open, liberal, transparent, democratic, through participatory public policy-making process. The Minister extended profound gratitude to farmers, members of the public, elected representatives, NGOs, and the media for their support and cooperation in successfully formulating the Goa State Amritkal Agriculture Policy, 2024; states a press release.
