Tamil Nadu Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister R. Vinoth presented the TVK government's first Agriculture Budget for 2026-27 in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, a day after Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson presented the state's General Budget. Vinoth said the Budget was prepared after consultations with farmers, farmer associations, agribusiness leaders and exporters across Salem, Thanjavur, Vellore, Tirunelveli, Chennai and surrounding districts, and was framed in line with CM Vijay's long-term vision for the sector.
Soil, Seeds and Climate Resilience
The centrepiece announcement was the Tamil Nadu Soil Conservation Mission, allocated ₹122.51 crore to improve soil fertility, reduce chemical fertiliser use and promote natural and organic farming. Within it, Soil Health Cards will go to one lakh farmers at a state cost of ₹4 crore, with roughly three lakh more farmers covered through a central scheme. The Budget also earmarks ₹63.50 crore for green manure cultivation, ₹12.38 crore for water-soluble fertilisers and crop growth promoters, ₹8 crore to encourage organic farming, and ₹4.50 crore for liquid bio-fertilisers.
With Super El Nino conditions expected to affect 12 districts during the Kuruvai season, district-level agricultural contingency plans have been circulated to all collectors. Low water levels at the Mettur Dam delayed its scheduled June 12 opening, prompting a ₹134.83 crore Kuruvai Special Package that has supported cultivation on 8.26 lakh acres so far. The food-grain target of 125 lakh metric tonnes for 2026-27 sits within a five-year goal of 130 lakh metric tonnes.
Technology and Targeted Missions
| Initiative | Allocation |
|---|---|
| Crop insurance (PMFBY) — 15 lakh farmers, 36 lakh acres | ₹648.55Cr |
| Free electricity for agricultural pump sets | ₹7,432.58Cr |
| Self-Sufficiency Mission for Pulses & Oilseeds | ₹203.64Cr |
| Tamil Nadu Millet Mission | ₹63.81Cr |
| Paddy seed production & distribution subsidy | ₹34.72Cr |
| AI-powered farmer advisory app | ₹2Cr |
On technology, Vinoth announced an AI-powered application to deliver personalised digital advisory services to farmers, part of what he described as agriculture's shift "from subsistence farming to a modern, technology-driven and market-oriented sector" through irrigation expansion, mechanisation, precision farming and data-driven governance. On irrigation, the government will create new facilities for 2,600 acres in rain-fed regions through borewells and tube wells, while micro-irrigation systems will extend coverage to a further 50,000 acres.
Crop Loan Waiver Disbursement
Separately, the government confirmed it has disbursed ₹5,267 crore toward the 2026 crop loan waiver for eligible farmers, released in four instalments — ₹100 crore, ₹3,000 crore, ₹1,820 crore and ₹347 crore. CM Vijay commended both Wilson and Vinoth for presenting the revised estimates within three months of the TVK government taking office.
Agriculture Budget R. Vinoth Soil Conservation Mission CM Vijay August 6, 2026
Live coverage of the Tamil Nadu Agriculture Budget 2026-27, presented by Agriculture Minister R. Vinoth.
Agriculture Minister Vinoth presents the Tamil Nadu Agriculture Budget 2026 in the Assembly.
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