Tamil Nadu Agri Budget | State has arrested decline in cultivable land: M.R.K. Panneerselvam

Tamil Nadu, through various initiatives, has succeeded in arresting the decline in cultivable land caused by climate change and natural calamities, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam said in the Assembly on Tuesday (February 17, 2026).

“During 2024-25, the double-cropped area increased to 13.99 lakh hectares. This is an increase of about 2 lakh hectares compared to 2019-20,” he said while presenting the Interim Agriculture Budget for 2026-27, with an outlay of ₹47,248.24 crore, in the Assembly.

Read the full Agri Budget speech here.

He said the State government’s focus on agriculture was evident from the steady rise in allocations — from ₹34,220 crore in 2021-22 to ₹45,661 crore in 20250-26, an increase of over ₹11,000 crore.

“In the Interim Budget for 2026-27, an amount of ₹47,248.24 crore has been allocated to the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, and farmers’ welfare schemes will continue to be implemented,” Mr. Panneerselvam said.

The average Gross State Value Added (GSVA) in agriculture, the Minister said, had risen from 1.36% during 2012-13 to 2020-21 to 3.03% during 2021-22 to 2024-25. The GSVA at constant (2011-12) prices increased by about 9.97% to ₹59,11,708 lakh in 2024-25 from ₹53,75,639 lakh.

He said every scheme of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, aimed at increasing farmers’ income, enhancing production and productivity, ensuring food and nutrition security, and promoting sustainable agricultural development, was being implemented systematically.

Promotion of agroforestry

Highlighting the government’s commitment to increasing tree and forest cover to 33% in Tamil Nadu, he said agroforestry was being promoted extensively under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission to expand green cover outside forests, improve the climate resilience of agricultural lands, and augment farmers’ income.

A total of 3.24 crore saplings were produced and distributed over the last five years, and 2.24 lakh acres have been brought under agroforestry. The Tamil Nadu Rosewood Trees (Conservation) Act, 1994, has not been extended beyond February 13, 2025, in order to encourage the cultivation of rosewood trees.

In addition, guidelines for culling wild boars have been formulated and are in force to protect crops from damage caused by wild animals.

The government, he said, has taken efforts to improve water and land resources in rural areas. Over the last five years, 68,930 traditional waterbodies have been renovated; 1 lakh supply and irrigation canals desilted; 29,800 check dams constructed; 31,325 groundwater recharge systems established; and 83,015 planting works undertaken, involving 2.78 crore saplings.