Shri Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) attends Farmer-Scientist Interface on Khazan Land Rejuvenation in Goa

12 June 2025, Goa

ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa organized a Farmer-Scientist Interface today focused on the rejuvenation of Khazan lands: the traditional coastal saline ecosystems of Goa for agriculture and agro-eco-tourism. During the interaction, farmers highlighted the urgent need for intervention to enhance agricultural productivity and ensure the effective utilization of these unique ecosystems.

Shri Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), stressed the importance of adopting scientific farming practices and sustainable management of Khazan lands with the technical support of ICAR-CCARI.

Shri Viresh Borkar, Member of Legislative Assembly, St. Andre, spoke about the challenges related to multiple ownership and administrative hurdles in managing Khazan lands, calling for coordinated efforts to address these issues.

Shri Sandeep Faldesai, Director, Agriculture, Government of Goa, assured the farmers that the Directorate is committed to improving agricultural practices on Khazan lands and will submit appropriate recommendations to the Government to resolve existing challenges.

Dr Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, highlighted the institute’s ongoing research and development initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable coastal agriculture, with a special focus on the Khazan land ecosystem.

Shri Sandeep Dharkar, General Manager, NABARD, Goa, informed that NABARD is actively collaborating with ICAR-CCARI by extending financial support for developing scientific farming models in Khazan areas.

The event brought together around twenty farmers actively engaged in agriculture on Khazan lands.

(Source: ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa)