Page 102 - DECO303_INDIAN_ECONOMY_ENGLISH

Unit 6: Agriculture in the National Economy

Soils Notes
The soils of Goa are generally lateritic (81%). They are sandy loam to silt-loam texture, well
drained and very acidic (5.5 to 6 .5 pH). These soils have reasonable organic carbon and are poor
in potash.
About 11% of the soils placed along the seacoast and estuaries are sandy-to-sandy learns. They
comprise the Ker lands and beach fronts. The remaining 8% of the soils are alluvial in nature.
The Khazans and attached areas have alluvial soil with high water tables and are subject to
inundation by saline water.

Land Types

The various types of land are as follows:
1. Khazan Land: It comprises low-lying areas, often below sea level laterally the estuaries.
This land is used for monsoon paddy crop followed by Rabi vegetables. In limited areas,
pisciculture is also completed by regulating flow of water.
2. Ker Land: This is flat land at low elevation above sea level and having a high water table.
Rabi paddy vegetables, pulses, etc. are grown in these areas.
3. Morod Land: It refers to upland or terraced field suitable for horticultural/plantation
crops or single rain fed crop of rice.

Irrigation

It is important to note that in Goa old-fashioned foundations of irrigation were storage tanks,
small change bandharas, natural springs and wells. For rabi paddy (vaigon) irrigation was
frequently from storing tanks located in Salcete and Bardez. The normal practice is to nurture
kharif paddy in tank bed and the water dyke is closed early in September after harvest of Kharif
paddy. In Panda, Sanguem and Bicholirn small kucha “diversion” works are built on Nalas to
irrigate paddy fields during Rabi. Substantial area under arecanut depends on various springs at
higher altitudes.

After liberation of Goa, a number of Government “lift irrigation schemes” were appointed.
Irrigation wells were also unlocked. Further by appointing of Salaulim Irrigation Project at
Sanguem aid Anjunem Irrigation Project, State has added to irrigate an area of more than 10,000
ha.

Agricultural Development Programme

You must understand that the State of Goa is providing help to agriculture at all heights to
provide substantial revenues to rural people. The Department of Agriculture delivers support
for farmer from land homework to the degree of marketing of the produce. The Department of
Agriculture with its head quarter at Tonca, Panaji implements developmental programme
through Zonal Agricultural Offices located in each taluka of Goa. The Department has plant
manufacture centers in their agricultural farms. Machinery facility centres at the Taluka Level
and Training Centre at District Level. The Soil Testing Laboratories are positioned at district
level where soil health cards are issued for major and micronutrients.
Being a progressive State, the farmers face wonderful shortage of manual labour. The requirement
of machines for activities in agriculture is the developing trend. The land holding of farmers of
Goa is small and nearly 80% of farmers own less than 1 ha of land. The smaller machines are
desired and government offers financial assistance for such machines. The Government

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