The T.N. Agriculture Budget 2024-25, unveiled by Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, gives a major thrust to the production of oilseeds and pulses. Mr. Panneerselvam said that while strides had been made in paddy cultivation, there was still a shortfall in meeting the demand for pulses and oilseeds. The total allocation for schemes to expand the area under cultivation of pulses and oilseeds, is ₹108 crore.
Stating that the recent Russia-Ukraine war had brought to the fore the need for self-sustainability in food grain production, the Minister said that though Tamil Nadu required 18.45 lakh tonnes of edible oil annually, the area under oilseed cultivation was yielding only 4.85 lakh tonnes.
“The production of pulses is part of sustainable food production, which aims at food security and nutrition,” he said, announcing them implementation of a pulses development scheme in an area of 4.75 lakh acres in 2024-25. The outlay of ₹40.27 crore for the scheme, will come from both Union and State government funds.
