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Agri & FoodTech

Advantage Tamil Nadu

Agriculture is the prime and traditional occupation for the people of Tamil Nadu. About 56% of the people here are farmers. Agriculture sector supplies food and fodder to the people and cattle, respectively. It is the source of raw material for many of the industries. Tamil Nadu has an area of 130.33 lakh ha.. with a gross cropped area of around 59.42 lakh ha..

It is one of the States in the country with a creditable performance in agricultural production with the farmers relatively more responsive and receptive to changing technologies and market forces. Among the food crops, paddy is the prime crop cultivated in all the districts of Tamil Nadu.

The Cauvery Delta is known as the ‘Granary of South India’. Tamil Nadu is one among the leading horticultural States in India, contributing 5.88% of national horticultural production and 5.4% in respect of total horticultural crop area at the national level. Plantation farming is yet another type of farming where crops are grown on large farms or estates. Tea, coffee, rubber and pepper are grown as plantation crops on the hill slopes of Tamil Nadu.

  • Tamil Nadu is the second largest economy and the most urbanised State in the country.
  • It occupies 4% of India’s total geographical area but possesses only 3% of water resources. The State has a coastal line of 1076 km.
  • The climate in the State is mainly tropical and the temperature ranges between 18°C and 43°C. The State has been divided into seven agro-climatic sub-zones for planning agricultural development.
  • Farmers in the State practise mixed farming in many areas. They grow two or three varieties of crops along with cattle rearing, poultry and fishing on a large land holding. This method is profitable to them as it provides regular and continuous income.
  • Tamil Nadu ranks fourth in fishing among the States of India. A long coastline of 1,076 km and the broad continental shelf favour coastal fishing. Nadu. Pearl fishing is predominant in the Gulf of Mannar region. Thoothukudi is a leading port in fish export. Both marine and inland fishing are practised in the State. Oysters and prawns are cultured in organised nurseries at Ennore and Pulicat lake for export
StartupTN-Sectamil

Sector Incharge

Senthamil Arasan A

senthamil@startuptn.in

8489831881

Introduction

Introduction

The Agriculture Department has taken up the challenge of achieving a higher growth rate in agriculture by implementing several development schemes and also propagation of relevant technologies to step up production.

Intensive integrated farming system, massive wasteland development programme, comprehensive watershed development activities, water management through micro irrigation systems, organic farming, soil health improvement through bio-fertiliser, including green manuring, adoption of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technologies are given priority through various programmes, besides crop diversification, to fetch better returns.

Value addition to agricultural produce is also given priority to improve the economic status of the farming community.

Initiatives

Initiatives

Union Government

The Ministry of Agriculture accounts for 2.8 per cent of the Union Budget. It has been allocated Rs 1,25,036 crore in 2023-24, 5% higher than the revised estimates for 2022-23.

  • Digital Public Infrastructure: It will be built as an open source, open standard and interoperable public good. This will enable inclusive, farmer-centric solutions through relevant information services for crop planning and health and improved access to farm inputs, credit and insurance.
  • Agriculture Accelerator Fund: The Fund is meant to encourage Startups in agriculture by young entrepreneurs in rural areas. It aims to bring modern technology to increase agricultural productivity and profitability.
  • Agriculture Credit: The agriculture credit target has been increased to Rs 20 lakh crore with a focus on animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries.
  • PM Matsya Sampada Yojana: A new scheme with a targeted investment of Rs 6,000 crore has been launched to enable activities of fishermen and fish vendors and improve value chain efficiencies.
  •  Storage: A plan will be implemented to set up decentralised storage capacity to help farmers store their produce and realise remunerative prices through sale at appropriate times.
  • Cooperatives: The government will also facilitate setting up of multipurpose cooperative societies, primary fishery societies and dairy cooperative societies in uncovered panchayats and villages in the next five years.

State Government

Tamil Nadu has allocated 6.5% of its expenditure towards agriculture for 2023-24. This is higher than the average allocation towards agriculture by States (5.8%).

 

startupTnAgriculuture

 

  • Kalaignarin All Village Integrated Agricultural Development Programme: This scheme is designed for the holistic development of agriculture in hamlets based on the availability of water and soil fertility, through the creation of necessary infrastructure .
  • Tamil Nadu Millet Mission: Under the Tamil Nadu Millet Mission, subsidy is given for bringing millet cultivation to fallow lands and crop diversification to millets in 50,000 acres.
  • Digital Agriculture : Grower Online Registration of Agriculture Input System is being introduced in Tamil Nadu in which the basic details like bank account, Aadhaar number of landowners and cultivators, land details and crop cultivation details will be collected and digitised. This platform will enable the farmers to avail various benefits from a single source (one stop solution).
  • Cultivation of Horticultural Crops on a cluster basis : Exclusive clusters are to be formed for horticultural crops such as jasmine, curry leaves, chillies and jackfruit in districts where they are cultivated on a large scale, to give special focus on production, value addition and export. The scheme will be implemented by creating an exclusive brand for the produce generated from the cluster and link the farmers with the domestic and global value chains, thus providing higher income to the farmers and improving their livelihoods.
  • Moringa Mission :Considering the multiple health benefits of Moringa, the Government of Tamil Nadu has announced a Special Export Zone for Moringa, covering Theni, Dindigul, Karur, Thoothukudi, Tirupur, Ariyalur and Madurai districts. A Special Export Facilitation Centre is functioning in Madurai.
  • Palmyra Development Mission: To encourage Palmyra cultivation, ten lakh Palmyra seed nuts are provided to farmers and NGOs to plant in public places like riverbanks.
  • Securing Geographical Indication tag: It is proposed to get Geographical Indication (GI) for ten more products – Krishnagiri Arasampatti Coconut, Krishnagiri Paneer Rose, Thanjavur Peravoorani Coconut, Mulanoor Kuttai Moringa, Sattur Cucumber, Thanjavur Veeramangudi Jaggery (Achu vellam), Thoothukudi Vilathikulam Chilli, Cuddalore Kotimulai Brinjal, Madurai Sengarumbu and Sivagangai Karuppukavuni rice.
  • Banana Research Centre: To address the needs of farmers of the southern districts, an exclusive research centre for Banana is to be established at Agricultural College, Killikulam, Thoothukudi district.
  • Tamil Nadu Food Processing and Agri Export Promotion Corporation (TN-ApEx) : This is a lead organisation for the promotion of food processing and agricultural exports. Assistance to establish micro food processing units and creation of common infrastructure is provided under Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises and State Government funds.
  • Skill development training for rural youth: Skill development training is imparted to 500 rural youth for operation, maintenance and handling of tractors and harvesters in six workshops functioning at Vellore, Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Madurai, Tiruvarur and Tirunelveli.

Food Park

Food park is a place where food processing units are established predominantly for production of processable agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, meat, poultry, dairy and fisheries products.

  • Eight food parks are being established in the State in a phased manner by the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agri. Business.
  • A mega food Park is being established on an area of 53.36 acres at Gangaikondan, Tirunelveli district.
  •  Apart from the above, eight agro processing clusters are coming up in different parts of the State under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana.

Policy

Useful Links

Resources

Resources

  • TNSCM: Tamil Nadu Supply Chain Management Project for fruits, vegetables and other perishables. The project aims to establish a supply chain with the required social and physical infrastructure through proper market integration to provide primarily processed fruits, vegetables and other perishables in multiple forms. In this project, Tamil Nadu is divided into 10 Production Clusters.
  • Regulated Markets: They are established to better regulate the buying and selling of agricultural produce. In Tamil Nadu, 278 Regulated Markets are functioning under 23 Market Committees to enforce the provisions of Tamil Nadu Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act 1987 and Rules 1991 to ensure fair prices to farmers, reduce marketing charges, protect farmers from the hands of traders and provide better marketing facilities, basic infrastructure, etc.
  • Uzhavar Santhai: In Tamil Nadu, there are 185 Uzhavar Santhais, the places where both farmers, as well as consumers, get benefits.

Agricultural Research Stations

  • Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar
  • Agricultural Research Station, Kovilpatti
  • Agricultural Research Station, Paramakudi
  • Agricultural Research Station, Thirupathisaram
  • Agricultural Research Station, Vaigaidam
  • Agricultural Research Station, Virinjipuram
  • Agricultural Research Station, Pattukottai
  • Centre of Excellence in Millets, Athiyanthal
  • Coastal Saline Research Centre, Ramanathapuram
  • Cotton Research Station, Srivilliputhur
  • Cotton Research. Station, Perambalur
  • Dryland Agricultural Research Station, Chettinadu
  • Hybrid Rice Evaluation Centre, Gudalur
  • Maize Research Station, Vagarai
  • National Pulses Research Centre, Vamban
  • Oilseed Research Station, Tindivanam
  • Rice Research Station, Ambasamudram
  • Rice Research Station, Tirur
  • Regional Research Station, Aruppukottai
  • Regional Research Station, Paiyur
  • Regional Research Station, Vridhachalam
  • Sugarcane Research Station, Cuddalore
  • Sugarcane Research Station, Melalathur
  • Sugarcane Research Station, Sirugamani,
  • Soil and Water Management Research Institute, Thanjavur
  • Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai
  • Tapioca and Castor Research Station, Yethapur

Veterinary Research Stations

  •  Livestock Farm Complex, Chennai
  •  Poultry Research Station, Chennai
  •  Postgraduate Research Institute in Animal Sciences, Kattupakkam
  •  Institute of Animal Nutrition, Kattupakkam
  •  Central Feed Technology Unit, Kattupakkam
  •  Regional Research and Educational Centre, Pudukkottai
  •  Mecheri Sheep Research Station, Potteneri
  •  Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah, The Nilgiris
  •  Bargur Cattle Research Station, Bargur
  • Kangayam Cattle Research Station, Sathyamangalam
  •  Pulikulam Cattle Research Station, Manamadurai
  •  Alambadi Cattle Breed Research Centre, Dharmapuri

INCUBATION CENTRES – Agri & Allied Sector

Agriculture

TNAU has eight incubation centres

  • Technology Business Incubator, DADB, TNAU, Coimbatore
  • Post Harvest Technology Centre, Technology Business Incubator, Coimbatore,
  • Madurai Agribusiness Incubation Forum, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai.
  • EDII-Tiruchi AgriBusines Incubation Forum, Agricultural College, Tiruchi.
  • EDII-Killikulam AgriBusiness Incubation Forum, Agricultural College, Killikulam.
  • EDII- Periyakulam HortiBusiness Incubation Forum, Horticulture College, Periyakulam.
  • EDII- Mettupalayam AgroForestry Business Incubation Forum, Forest College, Mettupalayam.

Food

  • Periyar University Business Incubation Confederation, Periyar University, Salem.
  • EDII- Marine Products Business Incubation Forum, Fisheries College, Thoothukudi.