Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai called for collaboration between Goa and Maharashtra to tap the huge potential in agro-tourism sector especially in the Konkan region.
He was speaking after inaugurating the International Mango Conference held at Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurla by Interdisciplinary Society for Advancements of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (ISasAT) & Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth.
Elaborating on the strength of Brand Goa, Sardesai said that Goa’s tourism model could be emulated by Maharashtra whilst sharing advances in agriculture with its neighbour. This could make the Konkan region a centre of agri-tourism in the country.
Sardesai said that Mango, the National Fruit could be used as the ideal medium of doubling the farmer's income by 2022, a target espoused by the Prime Minister.
The minister stressed on the need for the Konkan region to create its own model of barefoot luxury and hip hideaways by exploiting its traditions and rich cultural heritage and its well endowed natural heritage.
Sardesai said the Goa Government was keen to seriously consider this as a likely alternative to the mining industry which in Goa was hit by abrupt closure because of Supreme Court directions. He said that sustainable resorts were the way forward to not only take tourism forward but also get the much-needed glamour to agriculture so as to make it appealing to today’s younger generation.
