Incorporated in 1966 jointly by the state and central governments with a paid-up capital of Rs 4.56 crore, TNAI participates in agro-based industries, manufactures biofertilisers and pesticides and fishnets, markets all popular brands of fertilisers, tractors, power tillers and farm implements.

It is setting up Asia's largest farm machineries showroom-cum-demonstration centre here, besides providing space to various farm machineries manufacturers to display their models. It will have facilities such as seminar/presentation room where groups of farmers would be explained latest technologies and other infrastructure facilities and rest rooms for farmers.

The corporation has so far participated in five projects viz technical grade pesticide manufacturing,button mushroom production and three floriculture projects by participating in equity with the promoters.

TNAI is a pioneer in the manufacture of sunflower edible grade oil and is marketing it under the brand name of Sunola since 1977-78. It has managed to retain its market share intact due to its high quality and consumer acceptance, even though several major players have now entered the sunflower oil sector.

Under the central grant-in-aid programme, 16 food processing and training centres have been sanctioned in Tamil Nadu.