Goa, Nov. 12 -- With vegetable prices continuing to rise and water shortage becoming a growing concern, farmer Claudius Dias has begun preparing his fields to cultivate vegetables and make them available to Goans at comparatively lower prices. Dias said local vegetable production would reduce dependence on supplies brought from outside the State while helping consumers access fresh produce at affordable rates. He said the initiative also aims to encourage local agriculture. Highlighting the need for water conservation, Dias suggested constructing small ponds near agricultural fields to harvest and store rainwater during the monsoon for use in irrigation during the summer months. He appealed for greater emphasis on traditional farming prac...