By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday (September 27, 2025) said Tamil Nadu was emerging as a pioneering State in agriculture.
“We have been functioning as a government that listens to farmers’ views and preferences. Across Tamil Nadu, consultations were held, and based on them, we announced schemes in the Agriculture Budget. As a result, Tamil Nadu is emerging as a pioneering State in the field,” he said at the inaugural event of ‘Agri-Business Festival 2025’ being organised by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare at the Chennai Trade Centre.
“After the formation of our Dravidian Model government, we renamed the ‘Department of Agriculture’ as ‘Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare,’ thereby declaring our government’s true intent. Through every scheme, we are not only striving to improve agriculture but also enhance the living standards of farmers,” Mr. Stalin said.
“In the past, you all know how delayed the opening of the Mettur dam used to be for Kuruvai cultivation. But since the DMK government took charge, the dam has been opened promptly on the scheduled date,” he said.
“This year, paddy has been cultivated on 5.66 lakh hectares — an additional 1,28,494 acres compared to last year. I have written to the Prime Minister requesting adequate fertilizer supply to Tamil Nadu, and I have been assured that action will be taken. We are working with dedication to ensure that farmers and agriculture in Tamil Nadu do not suffer in any way,” Mr. Stalin said. He pointed out that the food grain productivity, which was 2,835 kg per hectare three years ago, had increase to 2,857 kg per hectare now.
Highlighting various achievements in the past four years, Mr. Stalin said Tamil Nadu ranked first in India in crop productivity, second in maize, total oilseeds, and sugarcane production, and third in millets and groundnut cultivation, and was steadily moving towards the top rank.
In the past four years, 52 lakh people in 10,187 village panchayats had benefited through the Kalaignar’s All Village Integrated Agricultural Development Scheme, he said.
Mr. Stalin listed various achievements such as 1.45 lakh metric tonnes of cotton marketed in delta districts, Turmeric Export Centre set up in Erode, Mega Food Park built at Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli, formation of the Tamil Nadu Cashew Board, compensation of ₹1,630 crore provided to 21 lakh farmers for crop losses due to natural calamities, and ₹5,720 crore paid to 32 lakh farmers under the crop insurance scheme.
“We will transform farmers into entrepreneurs and nurture them as new exporters. That is the purpose of this festival. I request all farmers to make full use of it,” the Chief Minister added.
