Cadres of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and delta farmers welcomed the announcement of setting up of a College for Organic Agriculture at Kumbakonam, in the Agriculture Budget presented on August 6.While the TVK cadres distributed sweets to the public in Thanjavur and Kumbakonam celebrating the announcement, farmers such as Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association secretary Sundara Vimalanathan have welcomed the initiative.The institute to come up in line with the present government’s long-term vision to make the State a leader in organic farming, will educate the students on all aspects related to organic farming through hands on experience and suitably guided on job opportunities.The fully State-funded college will be named after natural farming scientist Nammalvar and will come up at Sakkottai on the outskirts of Kumbakonam at a cost of ₹15 crore. Initially, ₹5 crore will be released during the year 2026-27, according to the Agriculture Budget presented by the Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Kumbakonam MLA R. Vinoth.In addition to the College, an Agriculture Engineering Extension and Training Centre will be set up at Kumbakonam to facilitate farmers enhance their crop production by adopting advanced technologies in crop cultivation and post-harvest management activities. Promotion of agricultural engineering technologies among farmers will be taken up.Kumbakonam centre will be one of the five AEET Centres to come up across Tamil Nadu (Tirukovilur, Karaikudi, Musuri, Dharapuram and Kumbakonam) at a cost of ₹4.60 crore drawn from the Union and State funds, the Budget added. Published - August 06, 2026 05:18 pm IST