‘Agriculture Budget shows Vijay’s Government has washed its hand of farmers

Expressing dissatisfaction over the agriculture budget presented by TVK Government on Thursday, Southern Districts Farmers Association said the budget showed that the State Government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has washed its hands of farmers.

“It seems the Government does not have the right understanding of the issues concerning the farmers who produce the foodgrains for 8 crore people. Besides, it has not taken any effort to sort out the issues faced by the farmers,” said the association general secretary, M. Arjunan.

In a statement he said that a meagre allocation of 3.69% from the total budget outlay for Agriculture sector showed the lack of concern of the Government towards the farming community after fixing a target of producing 131 lakh metric tonnes fo foodgrains.

While the Farm Budget got ₹34,200 crore in 2021-22 it was around ₹45,661 crore in 2025-26. However, in the present budget, only ₹14,984 crore was allotted for agriculture, he said.

Irrigation projects that form the basis of farming operation was not given any priority. No incentive has been announced in the budget to ensure fair remuneration for the farmers for their produce.

Besides, the Government has not made any announcement on desilting the dams for increasing the water storage capcity.

The Government has not spelled out its stand on provision of electric supply to farmers even as a total of 2 lakh farmers were waiting for electric supply for lift irrigation, Mr. Arjunan said.

Poll promises not fulfilled

Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam leader, N.A. Ramachandra Raja, said that the TVK Government has not fulfilled any of its poll promises to the farmers.

The Government was silent on its promise of increasing the paddy procurement price at ₹3,500 from the present ₹2,600 a quintal. Similarly, it has not fulfilled the promise of providing ₹4,500 a tonne from the existing ₹3,600 a tonne.

“The TVK has said that it would remove wild boar from the list of wildlife to enable its culling. That has not been addressed in this budget,” Mr. Ramachandra Raja said.

Similarly, the poll promise of 100% waiver of cooperative crop loans for small and marginal farmers and 50% waiver for other farmers has not been fulfilled despite farmers staging State-wide protests, he added.