Agri Budget tabled in TN Assembly: Details here

CHENNAI: The Agriculture Budget for Tamil Nadu is being presented by State Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam at the Assembly in Chennai.

Here are the latest updates from the Assembly:

• 1.5 lakh electricity connections given to TN farmers in the last two years.

• Tamil Nadu ground water level increased.

• The goal of this Budget is to increase yield through modern technology, says MRK Paneerselvam.

• Under PM crop insurance, 26 lakh farmers have registered in 2021-2022.

• The goal is to produce 127 lakh metric tonnes of pulses in the State.

• 15 lakh coconut saplings to be provided free.

• 2,504 panchayats will be used for grain production at a cost of Rs 230 crore.

• Bore wells will be constructed and electricity will be provided to Adi Dravida and tribal farmers.

• Under Tamil Nadu Small Grains Movement, Rs 82 crore has been allocated to increase production.

• Namakkal, Tirupur, Coimbatore, Erode and Pudukottai will be included to the existing small grain zones.

• Rs 15 crore allocated for the procrument of various agri equipment.

• ₹1,695 crore as insurance premium subsidy provided and ₹783 crore as compensation to 6.77 lakh farmers.

• Rs 26 crore allocated for organic farming.

• In the last 2 years, 1.5 lakh agricultural electricity connections have been provided.

• High quality saplings like sandalwood and teak have been planted in an area of ​​30 thousand hectares.

• Direct procurement of paddy has been done at an unprecedented scale.

• A new official website to be launched for TN farmers’ welfare.

• Rs 4 crore allotted to start agriculture-related business for 200 youth who have agriculture degree.

• Govt orders have been issued for announcements made in the Agriculture Budget in the last 2 years.

• Rs 20 crore allocated for coconut farming.

• Rs 14 crore allocated for alternative farmings.

• Help desk to be established for the farmers across the State.

• State Agriculture Development Scheme will be implemented at an outlay of Rs 64 crore

• Digital Agriculture will be extended to 385 Block Agricultural Extension Centres across 37 districts in the coming year.

• Research to be undertaken to cultivate various varities of Jackfruit.

• Rs 19 crore allocated for the availability of tomatoes throughout the year.

• Rs 50 crore allocated for interest-free loan to develop animal husbandary.

• Rs 29 crore allocated for the availability of onions throughout the year.

• Rs 450 crore allocated for micro irrigation.

• Sustainable Cotton Cultivation Mission would be continued in the coming year at Rs 12 crore.

• Rs 2,337 crore allotted towards the State share of premium subsidy for crop insurance.

• The State government will allocate Rs 253 crore to provide Special Incentive of Rs 195 over and above the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of Rs 2,821 per MT of cane announced by the Union Government to eligible farmers.

• To encourage Integrated Farming Systems, a subsidy of Rs.50,000 will be extended to 10,000 integrated farming system units in the coming year and a sum of Rs 50 crore will be allocated.

• A new portal called “GRAINS” (Grower Online Registration of Agriculture Input System) will be introduced in Tamil Nadu in which the basic details like bank account, Aadhar number of landowners and cultivators, land details and crop cultivation details will be collected and digitised. This platform will enable the farmers to avail various benefits from a single source (One Stop Solution).

• To provide the information viz., newly released high yielding varieties, cultivation technologies, crop protection methods, integrated nutrient management, modern machinery, value addition, marketing strategies in agriculture, horticulture crop, one scientist from agricultural colleges, research centers or Krishi Vigyan Kendras will be Officer-in-Charge for each block.

On Monday, the Government presented its Budget 2023-24 in the Assembly and said reform initiatives have led to a reduction in revenue deficit from about Rs 62,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore.

Fare free travel for women in State-run buses, breakfast scheme for government school students are among the several schemes that are being implemented.

It was also announced Rs 1,000 as financial aid will be given for women heads from September 15 on the occasion of late leader CN Annadurai’s birth anniversary.