As part of its food security mission and price control measures, the Tamil Nadu government proposes to encourage the cultivation of pulses in the state by offering to procure them from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to be announced by the Union government. The finance minister K Anbazhagan said in the Budget proposals for 2008-09 that the state co-operative marketing federation and the Civil Supplies Corporation would procure pulses from farmers.
The state government has extended the national food security mission programme for pulses to 12 districts in the state. During 2007-08 pulses were cultivated in about 8.50 lakh hectare. The production is estimated to be 3.70 lakh tonne. The overall food production is expected to exceed 10 million tonne. The national horticultural mission has also now been extended to cover 20 districts in the state. The state is also taking steps to increase the cultivation and production of palm oil. The state government is offering financial support to farmers to insure their crops. The rate of interest for crop loans is reduced to 4% from 5%.
A micro-irrigation scheme, which provides a 50% subsidy for installing drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation systems, is being implemented in all districts of the state to promote the judicious use of water in the cultivation of sugarcane and horticultural crops. The Rs169-crore scheme will continue in 2008-09 as well.
Precision farming under the national agriculture development programme is being extended to all districts in the state at an estimated cost of Rs 64 crore. The finance minister said to preserve vegetables and fruits meant for sale, cold storage facilities would be provided in 22 important farmers’ shanties by the state agriculture marketing board.
The government is offering subsidies for mechanisation of farm operations. Manufacturers of farm implements have been offered additional concessions. The state government is encouraging the formation of farmers’ self help groups, which will enable them to avail loans more easily, procure inputs more economically, market their produce in a more organised manner, and ensure better price realisation.