100% subsidy for small farmers in micro irrigation scheme

Agriculture Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam on Monday announced that 100 per cent subsidy will be provided to small and marginal farmers under the micro-irrigation scheme, while other farmers will receive 75 per cent subsidy.
Presenting the Agriculture Interim Budget in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the Minister said the State government continues to prioritise farm growth and irrigation
expansion.
DMK MLAs attended the session wearing green turbans in a symbolic show of support for farmers.
The Minister said 28 agricultural consultation meetings had been conducted across the State in the past five years and that the Kalaignar Agricultural Development Scheme was being implemented in all villages.
Around 10,000 small irrigation tanks have been improved and 800 fertiliser distribution centres with grading facilities have been established.
He announced that an agroforestry policy would be released soon and noted that the Mettur Dam had been opened on time in each of the past five years.
Steps were being taken to safeguard coconut farmers, and agricultural cultivation area had increased by three lakh acres due to government initiatives.
Cold storage facilities with a capacity of 8,000 tonnes have been created, while work to enhance coconut productivity has covered 17,860 hectares. Palm-based products worth Rs.80 crore were produced over five years.
Under the Tamil Nadu Small Millets Mission, Rs.178 crore has been provided to 12 lakh farmers and millets are now cultivated on 20 lakh acres.
The maize promotion scheme, implemented at Rs.78 crore, has expanded maize cultivation from 10 lakh acres to 12 lakh
acres. The Minister said 4,150 solar pump sets have been installed and two lakh new free electricity connections provided to farmers.
Under the Oilseeds Mission, cultivation is being undertaken on 14 lakh acres with an investment of Rs.229 crore, benefiting seven lakh farmers.
He added that 186 lakh metric tonnes of paddy had been procured in five years and Rs.2,045 crore provided as relief for crop losses due to natural calamities.
A total of 137 lakh metric tonnes of agricultural produce had been traded through regulated markets during the same period.
Subsidy of up to Rs.1.50 lakh will be provided for value addition and cultivation schemes for crops including tomato, mango and jackfruit.
Interest subsidy and incentives amounting to Rs.3,002 crore have been extended for agricultural loans.
In a related announcement, the Minister said four food testing laboratories would be set up in Chennai and Coimbatore.
Over the past five years, 41 products had been submitted for Geographical Indication tagging, of which nine have secured GI status, he added.