September 19, 2023

Tamil Nadu government allocates Rs 33,007 crore to Department of Agriculture for 2022-2023

The Tamil Nadu government has allocated Rs 33,007.68 crore to the agriculture department for the year 2022-23.

During Saturday’s presentation of the agricultural budget for 2022-23, Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam said that of the 86 announcements made in the latest budget, 80 are being implemented.

Tamil Nadu’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government presented the budget for 2022-23 on Friday with focus on urban sector, social welfare programs, education, climate change and flood prevention measures .

Climate change will impact 29 districts in Tamil Nadu, the agriculture minister said, adding, “Appropriate countermeasures will be implemented, such as alternative crops that can withstand the impact of climate change.” .

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The Minister of Agriculture said that the state will implement programs to increase the production of millet. “For the crop insurance scheme, Rs 2,329 crore has been allocated by the state. About 9.26 lakh farmers have received Rs 2,055 crore as crop insurance in the current year,” he said. he adds.

Training will be provided to farmers to adopt natural farming methods on 7,500 acres, he said, adding that the agricultural development program will be implemented for Rs 71 crore.

Further explaining the plans, he said 20,000 farmers will receive traditional seeds produced on 200 acres. “Millet festivals will be held in the state and districts to raise awareness about millet,” he said.

While talking in more detail about the government’s plans to improve agriculture in the state, Panneerselvam said that 200 Agri graduates would receive Rs 1 lakh each to engage in the industry.

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The Minister of Agriculture said: “A total of 30 metric tons of seed will be donated to farmers this year. In addition, a budget of Rs 132 crore has been allocated for the tree project. The area for the cultivation of sunflower will also be increased while a sum of Rs 400 crore has been allocated to encourage natural farming methods.”

Other announcements

-Kuruvai Cultivation Package announced at an estimated cost of Rs.61.09 crore.

-Government will desilt rainwater irrigation canals, distribute inputs and provide extension services.

– Integrated Agricultural Development Program of all Kalaignar Villages, Chief Minister Arid Lands Development Mission, Organic Development Program, Program to Turn Youth into Agro Entrepreneur, Palmyrah Development Mission and the integrated farming system are all implemented holistically.

– Traditional paddy varieties are cultivated on an area of ​​200 acres in the state seed farms of the government through the Nel Jeyaraman Traditional Paddy Varieties Conservation Mission.

– The farming tool kit comprising of six tools has been provided to farmers with a budget allocation of Rs 15 crore to improve the work efficiency of farmers.

– To facilitate re-cultivation, an input subsidy amounting to Rs 154.69 crore was paid to 3,35,143 farmers who were affected by the North East monsoon last year.

– Projects to establish appropriate water harvesting structures and groundwater recharge systems are being introduced into the agriculture budget to increase production in arid lands.

– The Arid Lands Mission will be implemented at a total expenditure of Rs 132 crore, covering an area of ​​7.5 lakh acres in 3,000 arid land clusters to assist arid land farmers to successfully undertake the cultivation of arid land crops.

– Special packages will be provided to encourage farmers to adopt alternative crops such as millets, pulses and oilseeds during Kar, Kuruvai and Sornavari seasons on an area of ​​66,000 acres at an expenditure of Rs 10 crore.

– The program including new digital technologies will be implemented for Rs 8 crore with funds from the Union and the state government.

– An additional subsidy of 20% will be authorized on top of the existing subsidy rate. To implement this initiative, an amount of Rs 5 crore will be allocated from state funds in 2022-2023.

– The Tamil Nadu Organic Agriculture Mission will be implemented by the cluster-based approach of the Department of Horticulture with two clusters in each district at an expenditure of Rs 30 crore with funds from the Union and the state government.

– Farmers will be encouraged to grow crops with high added value and short duration. This scheme will be implemented in an area of ​​20,000 acres at an expenditure of Rs 16 crore under Union and State Government funds.

– The precision farming scheme will be implemented in an area of ​​8,300 acres at an expenditure of Rs 5 crore under the state government fund.

– Intercropping kits will be given to small marginal farmers to cover an area of ​​38,000 acres at a cost of Rs 27.51 crore.

– Farmers will be encouraged to adopt high yielding technology at an outlay of Rs 25.15 crore.

– Tomato growers will be encouraged to increase cultivation during the off-season period (May, June, October, November and December) in an area of ​​5,000 acres by offering incentives or inputs at the rate of Rs 8,000/-per acre with a total expenditure of Rs 4 crore under Union and State Government funds.

– Three storage depots will be established in Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore with a total expenditure of Rs.1.50 crore for sorting, grading and packing of produce.

– Aid in the form of grants will be provided for the engagement of agricultural machinery and implements with a maximum aid of Rs 800/acre limited to five acres per farmer.

– An amount of Rs 10 crore will be allocated under the Union and State Government funds to implement the scheme to support about 37,000 small and marginal farmers covering an area of ​​62,000 acres. For the implementation of this program, a sum of Rs 150 crore will be allocated in 2022-23.

– To assist women farmers and clusters to hire simple farming tools, 736 tool banks will be established under the Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihood Mission.

– To meet the electricity demand for good irrigation, 3,000 solar powered stand-alone pumping systems up to 10HP capacity will be installed with 70% subsidy assistance at an expenditure of 65.34 crores of Rupees in the year 2022-23 under the Union Government and State Fund.

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