Chennai, Aug 6
Tamil Nadu Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister R. Vinoth is set to present the Agriculture Budget for 2026-27 in the State Assembly on Thursday, with expectations centred on farm loan relief, improved returns for major crops and measures to protect agriculture from increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.
The sector-specific Budget follows the Revised Budget Estimates for 2026-27 presented by Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson on Wednesday. It marks another key policy exercise of the TVK government headed by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
Farmers are keenly awaiting an announcement on cooperative crop loans. Agricultural organisations have been demanding a waiver of loans taken up to February 28, 2026, and the Budget is expected to indicate the government’s approach towards providing debt relief and the financial provisions required for it.
Improving returns from cultivation is another major area of expectation. Farmers have sought better procurement incentives for paddy and sugarcane, along with measures to bring down input costs and ensure that payments for crops purchased through government agencies are made without delay.
Expansion and improvement of procurement centres and simpler procedures for selling agricultural produce are also expected to receive attention.
The Budget is likely to place considerable emphasis on protecting the farm sector from drought, excessive rainfall and shifting monsoon patterns. Irrigation projects, water conservation and drought-management measures could form part of the government’s response, particularly in the Cauvery delta and water-stressed southern districts.
Farm mechanisation, storage infrastructure, adoption of modern agricultural technologies and support for food processing and allied activities are also likely to figure in the announcements.
The Revised Budget presented on Wednesday allocated ₹14,984 crore to the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department.
Thursday’s Agriculture Budget will be closely watched for the TVK government’s plans to translate its commitments to farmers into specific schemes while setting out a broader strategy to raise agricultural productivity and rural incomes.
