Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji (RS)

Panaji, Aug 23: Goan school drop-outs will now be trained in various agriculture related skills with the state government developing its four-acre farm into a laboratory.

“We will be training them in various activities like eco-tourism, land scapping, nursery management, fertilizer management and plant protection, harvesting of coconuts and mangoes and others,’’ Girish Chodankar, chairman of Goa state Horticulture corporation limited (GSHCL), told the presspersons.

For the first time, the coastal state with dwindling horticulture and agriculture due to increasing mining and tourism activity, have carved out such a scheme. “Those youths who have passed forth standard will be eligible for the scheme,’’ Chodankar said.

The state-owned GSHCL has developed its four-acre farm tucked on the outskirts of Panaji. “The farm was left unused. We are putting it to the best purpose,’’ the GSHCL chairman said adding that state horticulture and agriculture sector faces acute shortage of manpower.

“There are number of youths from farming community who needs such training so that they can put their farms to better use,’’ Chodankar said.

He said that chief minister Digamber Kamat has assured all possible support for such schemes that will bring traditional farmers back to their vocations.

“The course will be of three month duration and one of its kind in the country where we will teach them traditional and modern farming skills,’’ he stated.

The corporation has purchased a mechanized lift and other equipments. “The state government has sanctioned Rs 11 lac for the scheme and will assure to provide more money once it started,’’ Chodankar stated.

The GSHCL is toying up with the idea to treat this course par with Industrial Training Institute (ITI) courses so that the passed out students can also try for various other employment opportunities.