Announcing several new schemes and upgrading pre-existing schemes to promote farming in the state, Tamil Nadu Agricultural Minister M. R. K. Panneerselvam tabled Tamil Nadu Agriculture Budget 2022-23 on Tuesday.
Tabling the budget, the Minister said that the Tamil Nadu government has given Rs 1,695 crore as insurance premium subsidy. So far Rs 783 crore has been given as compensation to 6.71 lakh farmers.
In Digital Agriculture with a view to providing efficient Agricultural Services, 'Uzhavan App' is rendering 22 important agricultural services from seed to sale, he said.
The Minister also made several other announcements.
> Kalaignar's All Village Integrated Agricultural Development Programme: The aim of the scheme is to make each hamlet, according to its potential, become self-sufficient.
In the coming year, this scheme will be implemented in 2,504 village panchayats at an outlay of Rs.230 crore.
> Tamil Nadu Millet Mission: To revive millets in Tamil Nadu, two millet zones encompassing 20 districts were declared in the last Agriculture Budget. Based on the representations received from farmers, five new districts namely Namakkal, Tirupur, Coimbatore, Erode and Pudukottai will be added.
> Village Agricultural Development Group: Groups will be formed in all village panchayats, covering all the hamlets over a period of five years to provide training. The group will consist of 25 to 50 farmers from all categories as members.
> The agricultural production increased in 2021-22 from the pre-existing production percentage in 2020-21.
> Efforts will be taken to provide 2 kg ragi to ration cardholders.
> WhatsApp groups will be formed at the grassroots level in order to disseminate information.
> Grains (One Stop Solution): A website aimed at providing information regarding the welfare of the farmers.
> In order to promote the cultivation of pulses, the state has allotted Rs 30 crore.
> For Tamil Nadu to rank on top of coconut tree plantation, Rs 20 crore was allocated.
> To increase profit through the production of oil, Rs 20 crore has been allocated to raise the cultivation of coconut, ground nut, sunflower and corn.
> Agricultural financial transactions will be digitised in 37 districts.
> Tamil Nadu government is set to offer cash award of Rs 5 lakh to the farmer with the highest yield in rice crop at State level.
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> Nammazhvar Award will be given to Best Organic Farmer.
> An additional 20 percent subsidy will be given for small and marginal farmers of Scheduled Caste and
Scheduled Tribe.
> Agricultural e-Service centers will be implemented in 385 Agricultural Extension Centers, where farmers can apply and get all services related to agriculture
electronically, under one roof.