First exclusive budget focuses on improving TN’s agriculture profile

Inputs of farmers were taken during his visits to Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Coimbatore and Krishnagiri and other areas, on the advice of the Chief Minister

In its first exclusive budget for the agriculture sector presented in the State Legislative Assembly, the DMK government on Saturday announced a slew of schemes to boost the agriculture profile of Tamil Nadu over the next 10 years, including schemes for judicious use of irrigation water, solar-powered pump sets and a special scheme named after former CM M. Karunanidhi for overall agricultural development and self-sufficiency in villages. Presenting the first agriculture budget in the House incidentally on the completion of 100 days of DMK assuming office, Agriculture Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam said he dedicated the Budget to those farmers protesting in Delhi to agitate against the farm laws. He said the inputs of farmers were taken during his visits to Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Coimbatore and Krishnagiri and other areas, on the advice of the Chief Minister. A scheme for judicious use of irrigation water would be implemented at an outlay of ₹982.48 crore with State government fund and Union government contribution. Under this scheme, the government will identify small and marginal farmers who possess irrigation facilities and promote drip irrigation in a cluster approach to cover the increased area under cultivation and to enhance production with judicious use of water. For this purpose, it is proposed to install micro-irrigation structures in an area of 1.50 lakh hectare.