Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Feb 2: The Union Budget’s focus on promoting high-value crops such as coconut and cashew has been largely welcomed by Goa’s farming community, though many cultivators have stressed that persistent on-ground challenges must be addressed for the benefits to truly reach them.

Chandrahas Desai, managing director of the Goa State Horticulture Corporation Limited, said budgetary support for coconut and cashew could play a key role in modernising orchards and promoting scientific farming methods. He noted that these crops enjoy strong demand in both domestic and international markets and that targeted support could improve productivity, quality, and reduce post-harvest losses.

Desai also highlighted the wider economic impact of the move, saying it could draw young people towards horticulture by making it a more viable and profitable occupation. He added that expanding processing and value-added industries—such as cashew kernel processing, coconut and virgin coconut oil production, coir manufacturing, and other by-products—would generate employment opportunities in rural areas.

However, farmers on the ground expressed concern that policy announcements often fail to translate into effective solutions. Coconut farmer Nestor Rangel pointed out that cultivators continue to face serious threats to crop health and productivity. One of the biggest challenges, he said, is damage caused by wild animals, particularly red-faced macaques and giant Malabar squirrels, which frequently destroy coconut palms. In addition, farmers are battling pest infestations, including whiteflies, mites, rhinoceros beetles, and the destructive red palm weevil.

Cashew farmers, meanwhile, have long struggled with stem and root borers, pests that weaken trees, reduce yields, and make orchard management increasingly difficult. According to farmers, these issues require sustained research and technical intervention rather than short-term measures.

Some cultivators also urged the government to prioritise research into climate-resilient crop varieties capable of withstanding the growing impacts of climate change, which is adding further stress to traditional farming systems.

Beyond coconut and cashew, farmers said the budget missed an opportunity to actively promote cocoa cultivation. With its tropical climate and coastal soil conditions, Goa is considered well-suited for cocoa farming, yet the sector remains underdeveloped. A progressive farmer from Sattari said the state has significant potential, particularly for cocoa varieties that thrive in coastal regions, and called for greater policy support to unlock this opportunity.