The State Government is determined to “spare no efforts” to transform the gloomy scenario of the primary sector and has vowed “to usher in a second green revolution to improve agricultural production by addressing the productivity gap and through value addition.”
It has even decided to extend Rs.3,000 crore as crop loans free of interest in case of prompt repayment and it will be disbursed through co-operatives.
The budget lamented that during the 11th Plan period, “growth in the primary sector suffered very badly. The area under cultivation is shrinking due to urbanisation. Cropping intensity and irrigation intensity are not showing improvement”. Hence, it has proposed several steps to transform this gloomy scenario.
Food grain production
Pointing out that the State government released water from the Mettur dam for irrigation in the delta region well ahead of the traditional schedule of June 12, the budget speech says water has been released from other major reservoirs also for irrigation. “Hence, the State has set for itself an ambitious target of 115 lakh metric tonnes of food grain production during 2011-12 as against last year's production of 85.35 lakh metric tonnes.”
Besides, it has set an ambitious goal of two to three times increase in the farmers' per capita income within five years.
“This we intend to achieve through effective dissemination and adoption of front end advanced technology to increase productivity of crops; farm-based interventions for mixed farming and by convergence of schemes to ensure integrated farm development.”
Hence, it has stepped up the allocation for the National Agricultural Development Programme for 2011-12 to Rs.467 crore from the previous year's Rs.197 crore. Similarly, the allocation under the National Horticultural Mission would also be stepped up from Rs.91.18 crore in 2010-11 to Rs.145 crore in 2011-12.
Enhancing productivity
In a bid to improve productivity, it would promote front end technological interventions like System of Rice Intensification (SRI), Sustainable Sugarcane Initiatives, Precision Farming and promotion of BT cotton. Also protected cultivation and precision farming of vegetables and high density planting of horticulture crops would be “aggressively promoted.”
Thus, during 2011-12, 22.24 lakh acres would be covered under SRI. While14,000 acres of sugarcane will be brought under SSI cultivation, “we intend to increase it to 2.45 lakh acres in the next two to three years.”
Precision farming will be adopted on 22,000 acres at Rs.20.93 crore and protected cultivation will be taken up on four lakh square metres to increase the productivity of fruits and vegetables.
Interest free advance extended to TANFED will be enhanced from the current Rs.90 crore to Rs.150 crore to ensure uninterrupted supply of fertilisers to farmers.
100 % subsidy for small, marginal farmers
The most important intervention required to enhance farm productivity is micro-irrigation. So, small and marginal farmers henceforth will get 100 per cent subsidy for putting up micro irrigation systems, other farmers will get 75 per cent subsidy. “The subsidy over and above the Government of India support will be fully bone by the State Government.”
During 2011-12, the State will cover 1.25 lakh acres through Micro Irrigation Mission and Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water Bodies Restoration and Management Project. It is to allocate Rs.151 crore for the purpose.
Shortage of labour
As shortage of labour is causing a serious setback to efforts to increase agricultural production, the State Government will purchase heavy duty high value machinery for the 74 subs-divisions under the Agricultural Engineering Department. Also medium –seized agricultural machinery and equipment will be procured by the primary agricultural co-operative credit societies (PACCS) for custom hiring to farmers.
At least 400 societies will be equipped with such facilities this year. Also, farmers, farmers' groups and self-help groups will be extended subsidy to acquire agricultural machinery and equipment.
Agro-processing
The government will encourage private companies to put up agro-processing industries with farmers' participation in a cluster approach with the farmers holding at least 25 per cent of the share capital in the company which will be contributed by the State government.
Market modernisation
A pilot scheme of complete market modernisation, including electronically linking the markets with commodity exchanges, will be taken up during the current year in the Villupuram Regulated Market.
Based on the experience, the remaining regulated markets will be modernised. Steps will be taken for augmenting godown and warehousing facilities at the PACCS and also to increase the storage facilities in agricultural co-operative market premises, regulated market premises and the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation. For this Rs.237 crore will be set apart with NABARD assistance.
