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GOA

Geographic position and climate

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Goa encompasses an area of 3,702 km (1,429 sq mi). It lies between the latitudes 14°53′54″ N
and 15°40′00″ N and longitudes 73°40′33″ E and 74°20′13″ E. Goa is a part of the coastal
country known as the Konkan, which is an escarpment rising up to the Western Ghats range of
mountains, which separate it from the Deccan Plateau. Goa has a coastline of 101 km. Goa's
seven major rivers are the Zuari, Mandovi, Terekhol, Chapora, Galgibag, Kumbarjua canal,
Talpona and the Sal. The Zuari and the Mandovi are the most important rivers, interspaced by
the Kumbarjua canal, forming a major estuarine complex. These rivers are fed by the Southwest
monsoon rain and their basin covers 69% of the state's geographical area. The climate of the area
is tropical monsoon type. Hot and humid climate prevails for most of the year. Annual mean
rainfall (average of 30 years) is 2926 mm, concentrated from early June to late September. On
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average, the month of May is the warmest month, with temperature peaks over 35 C and relative
humidity of 70 %. Goa experiences short winter seasons between mid- December and February
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and these months are marked by mean night temperature of approximately 21 C and a mean day
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temperature of around 28 C with relative humidity of 65 %.

Soils and soil fertility

Most of Goa's soil cover is made up of laterites rich in ferric-aluminium oxides and reddish in
colour. Further inland and along the riverbanks, the soil is mostly alluvial and loamy. The soil is
rich in minerals and humus, thus conducive to agriculture. Some of the oldest rocks in the Indian
subcontinent are found in Goa between Molem and Anmod on Goa's border with Karnataka.
The predomint soils belong to Inceptisols, Ultisols, Entisols and Alfisols soil order,sandy loam to
silty loam in texture, and developed from granite, granite-gneiss, quartzite/schistose and basalt.
the main soil types of Goa are coastal alluvial, mixed red and black, laterite and red sandy soils.
The soil pH ranges from 4.5 to 6.5. Most of the soils having fairly good content of organic matter
and respond well to application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and micronutrient fertilizers.

Crops and cropping systems

Agriculture in Goa is one of the important economic activities in the state. Goa faces problems
for enough cultivable land to feed its own population because its position between the Arabian
Sea and the Western Ghats.The important crops, apart from paddy, are ragi, maize, jowar, bajra
and pulses. Cash crops like coconut, oil palm, cashew-nut, arecanut, mango, jackfruit, banana,
pineapple are also grown in abundance. Cashew is an important crop in Goa. A kind of
intoxicating drink called Feni is produced from cashew. Sugarcane cultivation has been taken up
only recently. A variety of mangoes are grown in Goa. The vegetables that form a part of the
agriculture in Goa are brinjal, lady's fingers, radish, cucumber, pumpkins, drumsticks, breadfruit
and different varieties of gourds. Sweet potatoes, chillies, onions are also available.Paddy being
the principal crop of Goa, it is grown in two seasons, namely kharif or sorod and the rabi or
vaingan. The main sources of irrigation for winter crops are the nallahs, rivers and streams,
tanks, wells and canals. Crops grown in the Kharif season consist of paddy, ragi (locally called
nachani) and some pulses. Crops grown in the rabi season are comprised of paddy, pulses like
horse-gram (kulith), black gram (udid), a variety of beans and some vegetables.