Tamil Nadu's Agriculture Budget Signals Major Growth in Paddy Cultivation and New Agroforestry Push
The Tamil Nadu state government's interim agriculture budget, presented on Tuesday, has highlighted a substantial increase in paddy cultivation and overall cropped area across the state. The budget attributes this growth to sustained government intervention and signals a fresh push for agroforestry in the coming years.
Budget Allocation and Policy Initiatives
Presenting the budget in the Assembly, Agriculture Minister M R K Panneerselvam announced that the allocation for the agriculture sector has been increased to ₹47,248 crore from ₹45,661 crore the previous year. This exclusive agriculture budget was introduced after the incumbent DMK government assumed office. Over the past five years, a total of ₹1.94 lakh crore has been allocated to agriculture and allied sectors, according to the minister.
Panneerselvam revealed that the 'Tamil Nadu Agroforestry Policy' has been approved by the government and will be released soon. This policy is designed to enable farmers to cultivate high-value trees such as teak, sandalwood, red sanders, and mahogany. In his budget speech, he stated, "The policy provides for relaxation of rules on felling, and transportation of felled high-value trees, provision of necessary assistance for planting and maintenance, as well as formulation and implementation of schemes to promote agroforestry."
Significant Increase in Paddy Cultivation
The minister emphasized that paddy cultivation witnessed a sharp increase due to targeted government support. In the 2025–26 period, a special package for paddy cultivation during the kar, kuruvai, and sornavari seasons was implemented for the first time in non-delta districts at a cost of ₹115 crore. As a result, paddy was cultivated in 12.48 lakh acres across the state, marking an increase of three lakh acres compared to the previous year.
Additionally, an extra 3.48 lakh hectares were brought under irrigation through various initiatives. These include watershed development programmes, desilting of 'C' and 'D' channels in the Cauvery, Vennar, and Vellar sub-basins, and improvements in the Grand Anicut canal ayacut areas. The provision of two lakh free electricity connections by the government also facilitated this rise in cultivation.
Support for SC/ST Farmers and Mechanization Efforts
Panneerselvam highlighted that efforts taken by the DMK government for inclusive development have benefitted SC/ST farmers. A 70% subsidy is being extended for agricultural machinery and high-value components such as poly greenhouses. An additional subsidy of ₹62 crore was provided to 17,340 SC/ST farmers to support their agricultural activities.
Emphasizing the importance of mechanization amid a shortage of agricultural labor, the minister noted that 77,499 farm machines and equipment were distributed over the past five years. The subsidies for these mechanization efforts amounted to ₹783 crore, underscoring the government's commitment to modernizing agriculture in Tamil Nadu.
This budget reflects a comprehensive approach to boosting agricultural productivity, supporting farmers, and promoting sustainable practices through agroforestry, setting a positive trajectory for the state's agrarian economy.
