The Hindu Business Line reported that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government's maiden agriculture Budget, presented in the Assembly on Thursday, pairs traditional farming with artificial intelligence (AI) and modern crop technologies, while explicitly signalling smoother coordination with the Centre.
According to The Hindu Business Line, the Budget attempts to undo what the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government had done by trying to shift the rural population from agriculture to manufacturing. It continues free power supply to farmers, setting aside ₹7,433 crore to reimburse the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation.
Policy direction: tradition plus technology
Presenting the Budget, State Agriculture Minister R Vinoth announced various missions for soil fertility, including for organic and natural farming, pulses, self-sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds, millets, small millets, and an AI scheme. The Budget makes clear the TVK government's intention to coordinate with the Centre by utilising various Union government agricultural schemes.
The Budget makes clear the TVK government's intention to coordinate with the Centre by trying to utilise various Union government agricultural schemes, according to The Hindu Business Line.
Soil health cards under the Tamil Nadu Soil Fertility Mission
For the first time, departing from the earlier DMK and All-India Anna DMK governments' policies, the State will provide soil health cards to farmers, the report said. The cards will be given only to those with farmer IDs — a way to overcome the controversy witnessed in Punjab. The cards form part of the five-year Tamil Nadu Soil Fertility Mission, to be launched at an estimated outlay of ₹600 crore.
Cotton Renaissance Mission targets extra long staple
The State government has come up with a 5-year Cotton Renaissance Mission, which will promote high-yielding production technologies such as:
- High-density planting system (HDPS)
- Ultra high-density planting system (UHDPS)
- Integrated crop management
- Nipping
Besides, it will encourage cultivation of extra long staple (ELS) cotton and intercropping to enhance farmers' income, according to The Hindu Business Line.
PMFBY: ₹649 crore for FY27
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) will be implemented in the State in FY27 in 14 clusters comprising 37 districts, covering all three sowing seasons. For this, ₹649 crore has been allocated, according to The Hindu Business Line.
The scheme will provide insurance coverage to 36 lakh acres of cultivated area, benefitting 15 lakh farmers. Adequate additional funds will be provided to facilitate enrolment of all eligible farmers who voluntarily join the scheme, the report added.
| Initiative | Allocation / Coverage |
|---|---|
| Free power reimbursement (Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation) | ₹7,433 crore |
| Tamil Nadu Soil Fertility Mission (5-year) | ₹600 crore |
| PMFBY FY27 (14 clusters, 37 districts) | ₹649 crore |
| PMFBY insured area | 36 lakh acres |
| PMFBY beneficiaries | 15 lakh farmers |
| Cotton Renaissance Mission | 5-year programme |
Agricultural commodity implications
The Budget's explicit missions for pulses, oilseeds and millets self-sufficiency, the Cotton Renaissance Mission's promotion of ELS cotton and high-density planting systems, and the ₹600 crore Soil Fertility Mission together outline Tamil Nadu's supply-side agricultural policy direction, according to The Hindu Business Line. PMFBY coverage for 36 lakh acres across all three sowing seasons reduces financial risk for farmers, while the continuation of free power supply is funded through a ₹7,433 crore reimbursement to the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation.
Sources:
