The trade bodies in Madurai offered a mixed reaction to the Agriculture Budget presented in the Assembly by Agriculture Minister R. Vinoth on Thursday.
Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president N. Jegatheesan said the announcements contained in the Budget were largely limited to routine schemes and financial allocations.
He said it was disappointing that the Budget did not include any new long-term policy initiatives aimed at taking Tamil Nadu’s agriculture to the next stage of development. It lacked sustainable agricultural strategies to address challenges of climate change, measures to promote value-added agri-industries, initiatives for export-oriented agricultural development, the adoption of modern agricultural technologies and precision farming, and visionary programmes to significantly enhance farmers’ incomes, he said.
He said no announcement had been made regarding the enhancement of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy, Tamil Nadu’s principal food crop, and sugarcane, its major commercial crop, as promised in the election manifesto.
In contrast, Agri and All Trade Chamber president S. Rethinavelu said the government had given priority to increasing water availability and ensuring water security, protecting soil resources, promoting natural and sustainable farming practices and expanding agroforestry to address climate change.
The government seeks to protect natural resources, promote sustainable agricultural growth and ensure the long-term livelihood security of farmers, he said.
He welcomed the government’s initiative to integrate women’s self-help groups with agriculture, livestock, dairy, fisheries and rural livelihood schemes, thereby enhancing their income. The Statewide implementation of Vetri Vanmagal scheme providing drone operation training for women was an innovative initiative that will encourage greater participation of women in agriculture, he said.
The announcement of schemes aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring that farmers received better prices, allocation of ₹3 crore for conducting State-level agricultural exhibitions and ₹8 crore for natural farming awareness programmes, were welcome, he said, adding that the initiatives would introduce the farmers to new agricultural approaches while also creating interest in agriculture among the younger generation and the people engaged in non-agricultural sectors.
He also welcomed the initiative encouraging the farmers to engage in exports. The scheme has the potential to transform agriculture into a higher-income profession and encourage more people to take up farming, he said.
Published – August 06, 2026 10:41 pm IST
