Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought political symbolism to Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, declaring that the "Bihar winds" had arrived in the southern state following the NDA's landslide victory that crushed the Opposition Mahagathbandhan.
Political Winds and Agricultural Reforms
Addressing a massive gathering of farmers waving green gamchas (towels) in Coimbatore, the Prime Minister drew direct parallels between the recent political developments in Bihar and the upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu scheduled for next year. The remark comes amid ongoing protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with 44 political parties led by Chief Minister M K Stalin deciding to approach the Supreme Court against the Election Commission's exercise.
Modi inaugurated the three-day South India Natural Farming Summit 2025, organized by the Tamil Nadu Natural Farming Stakeholders Forum, using the platform to outline an expansive vision for India's shift toward chemical-free agriculture. He described Coimbatore as central to India's agricultural transformation and expressed hope that "new ideas and solutions" would emerge from the industrial city.
Massive Financial Support for Farmers
In a significant financial push for the agricultural sector, the Prime Minister released the 21st instalment of PM-KISAN scheme worth ₹18,000 crore, benefiting nearly 9 crore farmers across the nation. He emphasized that India was "on the path to becoming a global hub for natural farming," describing the movement as both "a vision and a necessity" for reviving soil fertility and reducing chemical dependence.
"Lakhs of farmers in Tamil Nadu have received funds in their accounts," Modi stated, highlighting that over ₹4 lakh crore has been transferred to small farmers since the scheme's inception. He also pointed to the benefits farmers have gained from reduced GST rates on bio-fertilizers.
Cultural Connect and Agricultural Heritage
Beginning his address with reverence to local traditions, Modi stated, "I bow at the feet of Lord Muruga of Marudhamalai," acknowledging the temple deity on what he called the "sacred soil of Coimbatore." He described the city as a "land of culture, compassion, and creativity" with a rich textile legacy.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Coimbatore's political significance, noting that C P Radhakrishnan, who was first elected to the Lok Sabha from the seat in 1998, now serves as the country's Vice-President. Governor R N Ravi, AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, Tamil Maanila Congress leader G K Vasan, and state BJP president Nainar Nagenthran were among the dignitaries who received the PM at the airport.
After a short roadshow from the airport to the CODISSIA grounds, Modi toured an exhibition where farmers and start-ups displayed natural farming innovations. He warned that excessive use of fertilizers "is reducing soil fertility, affecting soil moisture, and increasing costs year after year."
Modi urged farmers to adopt the "one acre, one season" model of natural farming and appealed to agricultural institutions to "make natural farming a fully science-backed movement." He drew on Tamil Nadu's agricultural heritage, citing the state's tradition of Panchagavya, Jeevamrit, mulching, and millet cultivation.
"Natural farming is an indigenous Indian concept, not imported from elsewhere," the Prime Minister asserted, emphasizing that South India had long been "a living university of agriculture," from ancient dams to multi-storey farming in the Western Ghats.
