In a ceremony that drew the state's top leaders, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled a new packaging prototype for Goa Fresh while Chief Minister Pramod Sawant praised the state's rural outreach. The event, held at Betoda village under the Betoda–Ponda corridor, showcased stalls of fresh produce, women‑run enterprises, and Self‑Help Groups that had benefited from the 480‑crore revolving fund. Meanwhile, representatives from ICAR, the National Institute of Hydrology, and the Directorate of Agriculture signed a memorandum to strengthen irrigation and data support for farmers.
The programme highlighted the Lakhpati Didi scheme, which has funded more than 1,200 women entrepreneurs, and the Start‑up Village Entrepreneurship Programme that received a video launch from state officials. A total of 18 Bank Linkage Committee members, 10 village organisations under the PM‑FME, and six Integrated Farming Cluster chairpersons were presented with cheques for subsidies and development projects. Two farmers received petrol‑operated water pumps, while two dairy farmers were supplied with medicine‑and‑mineral‑mixture kits.
Shivraj Chouhan also announced the launch of a Farmers Producer Organisation policy aimed at consolidating smallholders. He praised the ICAR’s vision document for its role in modernising agriculture. The ceremony also featured a logo design competition, where winners received prizes for the Goa Fresh brand.
After the launch, the ministers joined a cleanliness drive at the KTC bus stand in Ponda, under the Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 initiative. Their participation was meant to reinforce collective responsibility for public spaces, echoing the programme’s emphasis on community engagement. Local influencers were urged to promote Goa Fresh on social media to reach wider audiences.
Ahead of the next state budget, the government plans to expand market linkages through APEDA and introduce a digital platform for farmers to track orders. The Goa Fresh branding is expected to be rolled out across state markets by September, with export pilots slated for the first quarter of 2027.