Directorate of Agriculture, Government of Goa located at Krishi Bhavan, Tonca, Caranzalem, Goa is the pivot for the agricultural activities for the development of the state of Goa. It aims at self sufficiency or Atmanirbhar Goa in the field of agriculture and production to improve economic status of farmers of the state.
It provides online services to farmers for Krishi card, Irrigation, Soil nutrition, Trade and business, Infrastructure, Seeds, Machinery, Horticulture etc.
DOA has Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), a society of key stakeholders involved in agricultural activities for sustainable agricultural development. It is a focal point for integrating Research and Extension activities and decentralizing day to day management of the public Agricultural Technology System. The objectives of ATMA include identification of specific needs of farming community for farming system based agricultural development, draw plans for production-based system activities to be undertaken by farmers/ultimate users, execute plans through line departments, training institutions, NGOs, farmer’s organizations and allied institutions;
To coordinate efforts being made by various line departments, NGOs, farmers organizations and allied institutions to strengthen research extension-farmers linkages in the district and to promote collaboration and coordination between various State funded technical departments, empowerment of farmers and facilitate market interventions for value addition to farm produce.
SAMETI
State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) established under the Directorate of Agriculture is located at Ela farm, old Goa. It aims at capacity building programmes on Agricultural Technology, Extension Management, Extension Reforms and Information Technology.
Apart from conducting training programmes, SAMETI facilitates infrastructure to conduct workshops and reviews.
It further aims at providing consultancy in the areas of project planning, appraisal, implementation, monitoring & evaluation, etc, Develop and promote application of management tools for improving the effectiveness of Agricultural Extension services, Organize need based training programmes for middle level extension functionaries, Develop modules on Management, Communication, Participatory Methodologies etc, Organize Annual Workshop involving all the agricultural related training Institutes in the State to achieve complementarity in training and capacity building for functionaries of agriculture and allied departments.
Geographical Location
Goa College of Agriculture is located in Ela farm complex, which also includes the Zonal Agriculture Office. It is located along Old Goa – Pilar Road in Tiswadi Taluka of North Goa District and comes under Old Goa village panchayat jurisdiction. The nearest city is Panjim situated at a distance of about 10 kilometers from the college.
The major economic activities in Old Goa and neighbouring villages are agriculture and pisciculture. The majority of the population in village is engaged in agriculture either working in their own land or as daily wage earners in village and nearby cities. Some people are engaged in their traditional pisciculture mainly catching prawns and fishes entering sluice gates through sea water.
The people in the village are very amiable and are willing to engage in various activities with proper guidance.
STATUS OF GOA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
The Goa College of Agriculture inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant on 27th Sep 2022 and offering professional B. Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture degree is the first government Agriculture college affiliated to the Goa University, Govt of Goa. It is established to provide agriculture education to students from Goa and other states of India. The college adopts Vth Deans’ syllabus provided by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Govt of India. Its campus has spread to over 40 acres area comprising college building, laboratories, boys and girls hostels, poly houses and experimental fields. There is cultivation of horticultural crops, vegetables and field crops. The college has experiential milk processing unit and projects on production of biocontrol agents, composting, vermicomposting, apiary, seed production, organic farming, scientific research etc. The students are provided with many facilities, which include library, wi-fi connectivity, common rooms, canteen, study room etc.
Future line of action
- Organic farming – organic cultivation of field crops, vegetables, horticulture crops.
- Agriculture entrepreneurship – Food processing, honey production, dairy processing, mushroom cultivation, goatery, bio-formulations, nursery management and hydroponics.
- MoU with different education institutes and industries.
- Collaborative projects with NABARD and Directorate of Agriculture, Goa – Polyhouse cultivation, seed production, lab to land programs.