‘State to cross 125 lakh MT food production in 19-20’

Replying to the House on demand for grants on Agriculture Department, Doraikannu said, “Food grain production in the state has surpassed 100 lakh metric tonnes, six times in the last eight years and in sequel to this government has programmed to achieve 115 lakh metric tonnes of food grain production in 2019-20.”

He also said that Tamil Nadu is one of the water starved states in the country with just 3 per cent of country’s water resources but the state has managed to achieve high production even in years of drought and so state government was given Krishi Karman award for four years, by the Centre. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also guiding farmers better by adding a new initiative named ‘My Farm Guide’ in Uzhavan App which uses embedded intelligence technological tools for providing instant solutions to farm problems, the Minister said.

He further said that the agriculture department had introduced several novel measures to increase the production this year such as creation of water harvesting structures like percolation ponds, farm ponds and community ponds, adoption of several new techniques such as integrated nutrient management and integrated crop protection measures to reduce crop loss and ensure sustainable production in dry land area and so on.