Panaji: August 17, 2026
The Swayampurna Goa – Vocal for Local initiative has opened another avenue for strengthening local agriculture with the launch of the Vegetable and Flower Seedling Distribution Programme by the Directorate of Agriculture, Government of Goa. The programme, supported by the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables and Flowers at Codar, Ponda, is aimed at providing farmers with high-quality seedlings and encouraging them to take up vegetable and flower cultivation.
Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant distributed vegetable and flower crop seedlings to farmers at a programme held at the ESG premises in Panaji. The event brought together farmers, officials from various line departments and a delegation from MASHAV, Embassy of Israel. A Letter of Intent (LoI) for Indo-Israel cooperation on water-saving technologies in Goa was also submitted on the occasion, further strengthening cooperation in modern and sustainable farming practices.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Dr. Pramod Sawant highlighted the importance of quality seedlings in improving farm productivity and ensuring better returns for farmers. He said the Government has invested ₹12 crore in the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence at Codar, with the aim of bringing quality planting material, modern technology and technical support to farmers across the State.
CM Dr. Sawant said agriculture, horticulture and fisheries are important components of Swayampurna Goa, and stressed the need to promote organic and quality-based farming in the State. He said Goa has considerable scope for increasing local production and creating new opportunities for farmers. Referring to flower cultivation, he noted that flowers such as roses were earlier sourced from outside the State, while the distribution of lakhs of seedlings can now help Goan farmers meet local demand and generate substantial income. He also said that, Government plans to take forward the ‘Goa Fresh’ concept in the future to help consumers identify quality vegetables produced locally.
CM also appealed to Goans, particularly women associated with RDA, to explore opportunities in agriculture and allied activities. He appreciated the efforts of the Directorate of Agriculture and ASSOCHAM in supporting the agricultural sector and thanked the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence and MASHAV, Israel, for their continued cooperation and technical support.
The programme marked another step towards making local production more competitive and creating sustainable opportunities for farmers under the Swayampurna Goa – Vocal for Local initiative. The focus on quality seedlings, modern farming methods and water-saving technologies is expected to encourage more farmers to diversify into vegetable and flower cultivation and strengthen local supply.
Among those present on the occasion were Secretary, Agriculture Shri Nikhil Desai, IAS; Director, Directorate of Agriculture Shri Chandrahas Desai; Israeli farming experts Shri Uri Rubinstein and Shri Daniel Hadad, along with the MASHAV delegation, farmers and officials from various line departments.
