By IANS,
Panaji : Residents of other states will soon no longer be able to purchase agricultural land in Goa, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the assembly Friday.
Parrikar was speaking in response to a private member’s bill tabled by Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane, who proposed that the Goa government should promote contract farming in order to cultivate barren tracts of agricultural land.
“This government assures that no outsiders will be allowed to buy agricultural land. And no agricultural land will be allowed to be taken over by anyone other than for government purposes,” Parrikar said.
“If people leave their fields barren, the fields too will be taken over by the government,” he said.
In face of rising real estate prices and rising labour costs, once lush paddy fields are now lying fallow throughout Goa, causing a steep drop in the state’s agricultural output.