Netravali ryots to grow strawberries

Margao: Come October, 60 households in Netravali, Sanguem, will commence cultivating around 32,000 kg of strawberries in a 5,000 sqm area under the supervision of the Atal Gram Development Agency, Goa (AGDAG).

AGDAG chairman Subhash Velip told reporters on Thursday, “Netravali farmers have already been trained to grow strawberries by farmers from Mahableshwar. Irrigation equipment, pesticides and other facilities will be provided by the AGDAG. The agency also proposes to modernise Netravali by undertaking projects such as beautification of the market by constructing bio-toilets.”

AGDAG project director Vijay B Saxena said, “The topography of Netravali and it’s climate from Salgini to Vinchundrem is suitable for the production of sweet strawberries that will earn farmers around Rs 60 lakh.”

There is also a proposal to make the 200-odd Netravali jackfruit farmers self-employed by starting a jackfruit processing unit.

“Another highly remunerative produce is that of cultivation of chillies. During his earlier tenure, Union ayush minister Shripad Naik had provided imported seeds for floriculture. This project, too, will be taken up,” Saxena said.