Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister M.R.K. Pannerselvam presented the 2023-2024 Agriculture Budget.
The Agriculture Budget for 2022-23 increased the allocation for agriculture and allied sectors to ₹33,007.68 crore.
It is slightly higher than the ₹32,775.78 crore in the revised estimate for 2021-22.
The government will take steps to achieve 126 lakh MT of foodgrain production in 2022-23.
Rs 2,337 crore allocated as the state government’s share of premium subsidy for crop insurance.
The ‘Kalaignarin All Village Integrated Agriculture Development Programme’ was announced in the first agriculture budget.
Cooperative crop loan to the tune of Rs 14,000 crore will be given to farmers.
Interest-free cooperative loan of Rs 1,500 crore will be given to farmers for goat rearing, dairying, poultry and fisheries activities.
Rs 744 crore will be allocated for the implementation of the micro irrigation scheme.
Rs 450 crore will be spent to cover 53,400 hectares under micro irrigation in the group of villages where agriculture is affected due to water shortage.
The Nammazhvar award will be given to farmers who practise and promote organic farming and hand-hold fellow organic farmers.
The award of Rs 5 lakh and a citation will be given on Republic Day.
A new regional startup hub is to be created in Thanjavur by the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission to promote agrotechnological innovations in the Cauvery delta region.
A scheme to stabilise the supply of onion and tomato throughout the year will be launched.
An additional 20 per cent subsidy is to be provided for small and marginal farmers of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Kits containing perennial fruit seedlings such as mango, guava, jackfruit, amla, acid lime, and custard apple will be distributed to 10 lakh households.
The beautification of government botanical gardens will be done at Yercaud and horticultural park and Madhavaram in Chennai.
Around 150 farmers will be taken on an overseas tour to countries like Israel, Netherlands, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Philippines etc to teach them about the high-yielding technologies.
Farm tourism is to be promoted in association with the education department for school students.
A specific cluster development scheme at cost of Rs 130 crore for bananas in the Theni district will be provided.
One scientist from agricultural colleges, research centres or Krishi Vigyan Kendras is set to be appointed as officer-in-charge for each block.
Desiltation in rivers, canals and drainage channels in the Cauvery delta command area at an estimated cost of Rs 90 crore.
Food parks will come up at Tindivanam, Theni and Manapparai in Trichy district.
The production of jaggery will be encouraged to benefit the sugarcane farmers.
3,000 solar pumps will be set up under the chief minister’s scheme.
The state government will distribute 10 lakh palm seeds to increase the number of the state tree – palmyra.
Rs 3 crore will be allocated for Turmeric and ginger cultivation.
The defunct cooperative NPKR Ramasamy Coop sugar mills at Mayiladuthurai will be reopened.
Special zone for tur dal cultivation will be set up in Salem and Krishnagiri districts.
New mobile app will be developed to provide all the required information to farmers.
Soil testing centre will be established at the cost of Rs 75 lakh at Mayiladuthurai.