As TVK government prepares its first agriculture Budget in Tamil Nadu, farmers, traders pitch reforms for water, markets
As Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government gears up to present its first agricultural Budget on August 6, 2026
As Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government gears up to present its first agricultural Budget on August 6, 2026 expectations run high across the State. Farmers and traders in the agricultural-heavy southern region, in particular, are looking forward to bold announcements that could revitalise the local farm economy. Starting from the government’s recent farm loan waiver announcement which has sparked widespread discussion, with farmers now demanding that the policy include all outstanding cooperative crop loans issued up to February 28, 2026—regardless of whether the farmer is classified as small, marginal, or otherwise to demand for resolving the ongoing issues in the procurement centres across the State, the farmers have a bucketful to be redressed/solved by the government. Reeling from drought and the severe impacts of El Niño, farmers across the Delta and southern districts have expanded their list of demands to include immediate financial compensation for their lost crops. S. Rethinavelu, founder and president of the Agri and All Trade Chamber, has put forward key proposals to tackle future climate change challenges by preserving micro water bodies for irrigation and improving agricultural marketing.
Noting that nearly 60% of irrigation tanks remain below half capacity despite receiving around 33 cm of rainfall due to encroachments and blocked supply channels, he highlighted the specific issue at Nilayur Kanmoi near Thirupparankundram. The damage to its northern and western bunds causes rainwater to flood residential areas like Thanakkankulam and Thoppur while wasting vital water resources. To fix this, he suggested desilting the tank, strengthening and raising the bunds, and constructing a perimeter road to boost water storage and improve local connectivity. On the agricultural front, Mr. Rethinavelu pointed out that farmers often sell crops at farm gates without proper drying, cleaning, or grading, securing low prices that discourage younger generations from entering farming. To counter this, he urged the Department of Agriculture to upgrade Agri Regulated Markets with comprehensive infrastructure such as mechanical and solar drying units, cleaning and grading facilities, cold storage, transparent auctions, full-fledged testing laboratories, and low-interest bank loans against warehouse receipts. Observing that current Tamil Nadu market committees lack these facilities, he recommended acquiring 100 to 200 acres per location to establish large-scale market infrastructure similar to models used in several North Indian States.
The BriefWire