The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government’s maiden agriculture Budget focuses on mixing traditional farming with modern technology, and includes various initiatives from natural and organic farming to artificial intelligence (AI). The Budget attempts to undo what the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government had done by trying to shift the rural population from agriculture to manufacturing. The Budget makes clear the TVK government’s intention to coordinate with the Centre by trying to utilise various Union government agricultural schemes. It, however, continues free power supply to farmers, setting aside ₹7,433 crore to reimburse the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation.Agri missionsPresenting the agriculture Budget in the Assembly on Thursday, the State Agriculture Minister R Vinoth announced various missions for soil fertility, including for organic and natural farming, pulses, attaining self-sufficiency pulses and oilseeds, millets, small millets and an AI scheme. For the first time, departing from the earlier DMK and All-India Anna DMK government’s policies, the State will provide soil health cards to farmers. However, the cards will be given to those with farmers IDs, a way to overcome any controversy as was witnessed in Punjab. This will be part of the five-year Tamil Nadu Soil Fertility Mission, which will be launched at an estimated outlay of ₹600 crore. The State government has come up with a 5-year Cotton Renaissance Mission, which will promote high-yielding production technologies such as high-density planting system (HDPS), ultra high-density planting system (UHDPS), integrated crop management and nipping. Besides, it will encourage the cultivation of extra long staple (ELS) cotton and intercropping to enhance the farmers’ income. ₹649 cr for PMFBYThe Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) will be implemented in the State in FY27 in 14 clusters comprising 37 districts, covering all the three sowing seasons. For this, ₹649 crore has been allocated.This will provide insurance coverage to 36 lakh acres of cultivated area, benefitting 15 lakh farmers. Adequate additional funds will be provided to facilitate the enrolment of all eligible farmers who voluntarily join the scheme.Published on August 6, 2026