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The State Government's objective in its agriculture policy is to triple farmers' income in the next five years, according to the Tamil Nadu Finance Minister, Mr O. Panneerselvam.
Presenting the budget for 2011-12, he said the focus will be on technology, productivity increase, mechanisation and support to irrigation. It has set a food grains production target of 115 lakh tonnes in the current year against last year's production of 85.35 lakh tonnes.
The budget has provided for higher allocation across the entire gamut of agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries. It envisages a significant role for the private sector in agriculture processing with farmers' participation. The allocation to existing schemes has also been enhanced in line with the targets set.
The State Government has allocated Rs 467 crore under the National Agriculture Development Programme against an outlay of Rs 197 crore last year. It has also stepped up funds to the National Horticulture Mission to Rs 145 crore (Rs 91.18 crore).
Tamil Nadu has also increased subsidy support to micro irrigation, with small and marginal farmers to get 100 per cent support (75 per cent) and other farmers 75 per cent (65 per cent). The State Government will bear the additional expenditure over and above the Centre's support to expand micro irrigation, the Minister said. The Government has allocated Rs 151 crore for the scheme to cover 1.25 lakh acres.
To support animal husbandry, the Government will launch a scheme to distribute 60,000 milch animals free to the rural poor over the next five years. Subsidy will be provided for fodder development over 24,000 acres. Support infrastructure will also be provided with the establishment of milk cooperative societies and mini-dairies.
The State Government will support mechanisation in fisheries operations, for which it has earmarked Rs 25 crore to add 500 new mechanised boats and deep-sea tuna liners this year, Mr Panneerselvam said.
Fish processing infrastructure will also be established in 13 fishing towns with the involvement of the private sector, National Fisheries Board and the Ministry of Food Processing. Two modern facilities will come up this year in Chennai and Nagapattinam as a pilot project initially, he said.
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