Image used for representational purposes
| Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj
Agriculture and Famers’ Welfare Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam on Saturday (March 15, 2025) announced a special package of ₹102 crore to increase crop area and food grain production in 29 non-delta districts of Tamil Nadu. Another package of ₹59 crore was announced for the delta districts, where paddy is cultivated in 18 lakh acres.
In the Agriculture Budget presented in the Assembly, the Minister said the purpose of the packages was to increase the area of paddy cultivation and food grain production during Kar, Kuruvai, and Sornavari seasons. The special packages will include distribution of subsidies for machine planting and quality-certified seeds.
He said several activities would be carried out in 37 districts to promote natural farming at a cost of ₹12 crore. It will eliminate the use of chemicals and promote an eco-friendly approach in agriculture with the integration of recycling of crop residues, animal waste, and tree debris. The Minister said the National Mission on Natural Farming would be implemented as a two-year programme to establish natural farming clusters, benefitting 7,500 farmers.
T.N. Cashew Board
The Budget announcement also included the creation of a Tamil Nadu Cashew Board at a cost of ₹10 crore. The Minister said cashew was being cultivated in Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Pudukottai, and Theni districts, covering 2.09 lakh acres, and the annual production was 43,460 metric tonnes. The board will encourage cashew-based industries and protect the welfare of workers in these industries.
Additional subsidy for SC, ST farmers
He also announced an additional subsidy for small and marginal farmers of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories to encourage them and reduce their financial burden. The existing subsidy will be increased to 60-70%, and the additional subsidy will be released from the State funds. The allocation for the current year is ₹21 crore, and the amount will be utilised for high-value schemes such as integrated farming system, polyhouses, shade nets, solar dryers, solar pump sets, value addition machineries, and farm machineries.
Mr. Panneerselvam said solar powered pumpsets under the Chief Minister’s Scheme for Solar Powered Pumpsets would be installed to benefit 1,000 farmers with 70% subsidy to small, marginal, and SC/ST farmers. For others, the subsidy would be 60%.
Nutrition farming
The Minister said the Nutrition Farming Mission will be implemented in Tamil Nadu in the current year with an allocation of ₹125 crore to enhance nutritional security and increase farmers’ income through higher production of vegetables, fruits, pulses, and minor millets.
Pointing out that the micro irrigation scheme would enhance fertiliser use, control weed growth, and reduce labour cost, the Minister said in the current year, micro irrigation systems would be installed over an area of 3 lakh acres at a cost of ₹1,168 crore.
The Minister said a special scheme for spices and condiments, encouraging the cultivation of pepper, coriander, chillies, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, and turmeric, would be implemented. The government will encourage the cultivation of chillies after removing Prosopis trees in Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, and Sivaganga districts.
Published – March 15, 2025 01:32 pm IST
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