Paddy is a water-intensive crop. Its successful yield is dependent on timely and sufficient rainfall, especially in water-deficit states like Tamil Nadu. However, diversifying to millets and pulses, which do not consume so much water for cultivation, are better substitutes to paddy. They will provide farmers with assured results.
In its new agricultural budget, Tamil Nadu Government is emphasizing crop diversification. Minister M R K Paneerselvam said that the Government would take a digital route to guide the farmers, based on which they can make informed choices on sowing crops, harvesting, marketing, and selling to maximize rewards.
Highlighting the impact of climate change on agriculture, the Minister said 29 districts in Tamil Nadu are vulnerable to global climate change (according to an intergovernmental panel on climate change). He noted that it might not be possible to mitigate the effects of climate change immediately, but preference is being given to increasing climate change adaptability.
The Tamil Nadu Government’s Second Agriculture budget proposes an expenditure outlay of Rs.33,000 crore against Rs.32,775 crores in the previous year.
The Government would splurge the amount on region-wise agricultural development. They include New Pesticide residue analyzing labs, Uzhavar Sandhais, Vegetable wholesale market complexes, Marketing centers, and Genetic diversity fairs.
However, despite all these new ideas figuring in the TN Agri budget, the biggest blow to farmers is there is no word on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Paddy and Sugarcane. It is a poll promise of the DMK Government in Tamil Nadu.
In its election manifesto, the DMK had promised to offer Rs2500 per quintal of Paddy and Rs.4000 per tonne of Sugarcane. So, there was an expectation among farmers in Tamil Nadu that the Government would make a formal announcement in the budget.
Further, lack of mention on a memorial for Organic farming crusader G. Nammalvar, Schemes for marketing agricultural products, initiating Coconut Development Board for Coimbatore, and Reopening National Cooperative Sugar Mill at Alaganallur have come as a disappointment for some of the farm groups.