Agriculture in Tamil Nadu
Encyclopedia
Agriculture
is the most predominant sector of the economy
of Tamil Nadu
, a state in India
. 70% of the states population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood. Tamil Nadu has as an area of 1.3 Lakh km2 with a gross cropped area of around 58.43 lakh hectares of which the Gross Irrigated Area is 33.09 lakh hectares which is 57% and the balance 43% of the area are under rainfed cultivation. Tamil Nadu is the home land of Dr M.S. Swaminathan
, known as the "Father of the Green Revolution" in India
. The state is historically known for its agriculture from ancient times. Annual food grains production in the year 2007-08 was 100.35 lakh mt. But now this is steadily declining due to industrialisation, growth of real estate business and migration of the younger generation out of villages for education and white collar jobs.
, maize
, jowar (cholam), bajra
(cumbu), ragi
, and pulses (Bengalgram, Redgram, Greengram, Blackgram and Horsegram). The cash crops include cotton
, sugarcane
, oilseeds, coffee
, tea
, rubber
, coconut
, gingelly and chillies. The important horticultural products are bananas and mangoes.The state is the largest producer of banana
s, flowers, tapioca
, the second largest producer of mango
es, natural rubber
, coconut
, groundnut
and the third largest producer of coffee
, sapota, tea
and sugarcane
. Tamil Nadu's sugarcane yield per hectare is the highest in India. The state has 17,000 hectares of land under oil palm cultivation, the second highest in India. Paddy
is grown in large excess because rice is the main staple food of the state. There are three crops based on duration. The first one is the ‘Kuruvai’ (the short term crop) with duration of three and a half to four months from June to July to Oct - Nov. The second crop is called the ‘Thaladi’ that grown in 5 to 6 months Oct - Nov to Feb - March. Third is 'Samba' and has a duration of almost 6 months from Aug to January.
with Seven agro-climatic conditions and varied soil types is better placed for production of Fruits, Vegetables, Spices, Plantation
crops, Flowers, Medicinal and Aromatic plants. Horticulture
is the fastest growing sector within agriculture
in Tamil Nadu. About 10.96 lakh ha. is covered under various horticultural crops. The total production of horticultural crops is 192.28 lakh MT. In terms of production, Tamil Nadu accounts for 10% in fruits and 6% in vegetables, in India. Horticulture is an important segment of Agriculture sector which contributes about one - fifth share in the economy of Agriculture and allied sectors. Mango
and Banana
are the leading fruit crops in Tamil Nadu accounting for over 87% of the total fruit production. The main vegetables grown are Tapioca
, Tomato
, Onion
, Brinjal and Drumstick. Tamil Nadu is also a leading state in the production of flowers with the total production of horticultural crops
standing at 99.47 Lakhs during 2003-04. The main flowers grown in Tamil Nadu are Jasmine
, Mullai, Chrysanthemum
, Marigold and Rose
.
Industry is an Agro-based industry and Sugarcane is cultivated by about 5 Lakhs farmers in Tamil Nadu
. The registered Sugarcane crop is cultivated in an area of 2.5 to 3.0 Lakh Hectares constituting about 2% of the total cultivable area. Tamil Nadu's sugarcane yield per hectare is the highest in India.
/ livestock
/ poultry
. The Animal Husbandry
sector plays a vital role in providing subsidiary employment to rural folk and guaranteed household income to landless agricultural labourers, small and marginal farmers. The Milk
production which was 55.60 lakh tonnes during 2006 07 increased to 56.73 lakh tonnes during 2008-09, an increase of 2%. Likewise, during the same period, the estimated Egg
production increased from 8041.521 million numbers to 8809.774 million numbers, an increase of 10%. Estimated Meat
production increased from 220 million kg in 2006-07 to 419 million kg in 2008-09, an increase of 90%. During the year 2008-09, the per capita availability of milk is 235 grams per day and egg is 133 numbers per annum.
in the State was 14,489.98
crores. The contribution of livestock sector to the Gross State Domestic Product is 2.88% and to the agriculture and allied activities it is 26.89%. The value of leather
and leather products exported from Tamil Nadu was 5,827.51 crores. The State contributes 5.23 % of total milk production and 15.83% of total egg production and stands 9th in milk production and 2nd in egg production in the country. The total area available for grazing in the State is 1.10 lakh hectares.
rearing which had been a cottage industry all along has now become a big industry by itself in many places in the districts of Namakkal
, Salem
, Erode
and Coimbatore
. There is a good potential for export of eggs, egg products and frozen chicken meat from the State to Gulf countries, Russia
etc. The Tamil Nadu poultry industry contributes 16.5% of country’s total poultry export.
Fish
is a source of healthy food for humanity at large. Historically, Fishing has been a major source of livelihood for coastal and inland
fishing communities. In recent years, fisheries have
become an important economic activity and contribute to significant growth in nutritional security, employment generation and foreign exchange
earnings. Tamil Nadu is one of the important coastal States in the East coast, Tamil Nadu is having a coastline of 1076 km. It has 13 Coastal Districts and 591 fishing villages with 363 fish landing centres. Tamil Nadu ranks third in Marine fish
production and the annual marine fish catch for the year 2008-09 was 3.97 lakh tonnes. During 2008-09, about 68,397 M.T. of marine products valued at 1,77,220.00 lakhs was exported from Tamil Nadu.
is the prime product of Dairying. India is the largest milk producing country in the World, in which Tamil Nadu is one of the frontline States in milk production and ranks as number one in the country in the coverage of more than 50% of revenue villages under Co-operative ambit. There are 8246 functional primary milk societies with 22.29 lakhs members.
and Tamil Nadu State Government
is continuously taking efforts to make Agriculture which is a primary sector, as a growth engine for economic development of the State. During 2006-07 the State Government have waived agriculture loan obtained from Co operative Banks to the tune of 6,866 crores. The Government of India
during 2007-08 waived agricultural loan obtained from Commercial Banks at national level amounting to 60,000 crores. Out of which 2,843.90 crores waived for the agriculture loan obtained by Tamil Nadu farmers from Commercial Banks.
to achieve the targeted agricultural production during
2009-10 are listed below:-
sector needs ‘well-functioning Market’ to drive growth
, employment
and economic prosperity. The Department of Agricultural Marketing, which is functioning since 1977 enhance many activities, some of them are:
– Thiruvalluvar's Thirukkural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
is the most predominant sector of the economy
Economy of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu has been ranked No 1 by the Economic Freedom Rankings for the States of India Possessing the fourth largest economy of $ 98 billion among states in India, Tamil Nadu is also the second most industrialised state next to Maharastra. As of 2010-11 Tamil Nadu had a Per Capita GDP of $...
of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, a state in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. 70% of the states population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood. Tamil Nadu has as an area of 1.3 Lakh km2 with a gross cropped area of around 58.43 lakh hectares of which the Gross Irrigated Area is 33.09 lakh hectares which is 57% and the balance 43% of the area are under rainfed cultivation. Tamil Nadu is the home land of Dr M.S. Swaminathan
M. S. Swaminathan
Maankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan is an Indian agriculture scientist in Kuttanad, kerala. He was the second of four sons of a doctor.He is known as the "Father of the Green Revolution in India", for his leadership and success in introducing and further developing high-yielding varieties of wheat in...
, known as the "Father of the Green Revolution" in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The state is historically known for its agriculture from ancient times. Annual food grains production in the year 2007-08 was 100.35 lakh mt. But now this is steadily declining due to industrialisation, growth of real estate business and migration of the younger generation out of villages for education and white collar jobs.
Important crops
The principal food crops are riceRice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, jowar (cholam), bajra
Pearl millet
Pearl millet is the most widely grown type of millet. Grown in Africa and the Indian subcontinent since prehistoric times, it is generally accepted that pearl millet originated in Africa and was subsequently introduced into India. The center of diversity, and suggested area of domestication, for...
(cumbu), ragi
Finger millet
Eleusine coracana, commonly Finger millet , also known as African millet or Ragi is an annual plant widely grown as a cereal in the arid areas of Africa and Asia. E...
, and pulses (Bengalgram, Redgram, Greengram, Blackgram and Horsegram). The cash crops include cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
, sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
, oilseeds, coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
, tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
, rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
, coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
, gingelly and chillies. The important horticultural products are bananas and mangoes.The state is the largest producer of banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s, flowers, tapioca
Tapioca
Tapioca is a starch extracted Manihot esculenta. This species, native to the Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and most of the West Indies, is now cultivated worldwide and has many names, including cassava, manioc, aipim,...
, the second largest producer of mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
es, natural rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
, coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
, groundnut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
and the third largest producer of coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
, sapota, tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
and sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
. Tamil Nadu's sugarcane yield per hectare is the highest in India. The state has 17,000 hectares of land under oil palm cultivation, the second highest in India. Paddy
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
is grown in large excess because rice is the main staple food of the state. There are three crops based on duration. The first one is the ‘Kuruvai’ (the short term crop) with duration of three and a half to four months from June to July to Oct - Nov. The second crop is called the ‘Thaladi’ that grown in 5 to 6 months Oct - Nov to Feb - March. Third is 'Samba' and has a duration of almost 6 months from Aug to January.
Horticulture
Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
with Seven agro-climatic conditions and varied soil types is better placed for production of Fruits, Vegetables, Spices, Plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
crops, Flowers, Medicinal and Aromatic plants. Horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
is the fastest growing sector within agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
in Tamil Nadu. About 10.96 lakh ha. is covered under various horticultural crops. The total production of horticultural crops is 192.28 lakh MT. In terms of production, Tamil Nadu accounts for 10% in fruits and 6% in vegetables, in India. Horticulture is an important segment of Agriculture sector which contributes about one - fifth share in the economy of Agriculture and allied sectors. Mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
and Banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
are the leading fruit crops in Tamil Nadu accounting for over 87% of the total fruit production. The main vegetables grown are Tapioca
Tapioca
Tapioca is a starch extracted Manihot esculenta. This species, native to the Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and most of the West Indies, is now cultivated worldwide and has many names, including cassava, manioc, aipim,...
, Tomato
Tomato
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant or the edible, typically red, fruit which it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler...
, Onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
, Brinjal and Drumstick. Tamil Nadu is also a leading state in the production of flowers with the total production of horticultural crops
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
standing at 99.47 Lakhs during 2003-04. The main flowers grown in Tamil Nadu are Jasmine
Jasmine
Jasminum , commonly known as jasmines, is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family . It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the Old World...
, Mullai, Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...
, Marigold and Rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
.
Horticulture training centres
The horticulture training centres functioning in Tamil Nadu are:- Kudumianmalai (Pudukkottai districtPudukkottai DistrictPudukkottai District is a district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Pudukkottai is the district headquarters...
) - Madhavaram (Thiruvallur district)
- Thali (Krishnagiri districtKrishnagiri DistrictKrishnagiri is a district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The municipal town of Krishnagiri is the district headquarters. In Tamil Nadu, E-Governance was first introduced at Krishnagiri district under the National e-Governance Project in Revenue, Social Welfare departments on a pilot basis...
) - Ooty (The Nilgiris)
Sugar industry
SugarSugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
Industry is an Agro-based industry and Sugarcane is cultivated by about 5 Lakhs farmers in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. The registered Sugarcane crop is cultivated in an area of 2.5 to 3.0 Lakh Hectares constituting about 2% of the total cultivable area. Tamil Nadu's sugarcane yield per hectare is the highest in India.
Sugar mills in Tamil Nadu
There are 41 Sugar Mills in Tamil Nadu: 16 Sugar Mills in Co-operative Sector, 3 Sugar Mills in Public Sector, and 22 Sugar Mills in Private Sector. Presently 38 Sugar Mills are functioning while 3 mills viz. Madurantakam Co-operative Sugar Mill (from 2001-02 season) Madura Sugars(from 2002-03 season) and Arunachalam Sugar Mills (from 2003-04 season) are not functioning.Animal husbandry
The livelihoods of most rural and low income communities in Tamil Nadu are to a large extent based on agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
/ livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
/ poultry
Poultry
Poultry are domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of producing eggs, meat, and/or feathers. These most typically are members of the superorder Galloanserae , especially the order Galliformes and the family Anatidae , commonly known as "waterfowl"...
. The Animal Husbandry
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
sector plays a vital role in providing subsidiary employment to rural folk and guaranteed household income to landless agricultural labourers, small and marginal farmers. The Milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
production which was 55.60 lakh tonnes during 2006 07 increased to 56.73 lakh tonnes during 2008-09, an increase of 2%. Likewise, during the same period, the estimated Egg
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
production increased from 8041.521 million numbers to 8809.774 million numbers, an increase of 10%. Estimated Meat
Meat
Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as organs and offal...
production increased from 220 million kg in 2006-07 to 419 million kg in 2008-09, an increase of 90%. During the year 2008-09, the per capita availability of milk is 235 grams per day and egg is 133 numbers per annum.
Livestock
During the year 2008–09, the gross value of output of livestockLivestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
in the State was 14,489.98
crores. The contribution of livestock sector to the Gross State Domestic Product is 2.88% and to the agriculture and allied activities it is 26.89%. The value of leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
and leather products exported from Tamil Nadu was 5,827.51 crores. The State contributes 5.23 % of total milk production and 15.83% of total egg production and stands 9th in milk production and 2nd in egg production in the country. The total area available for grazing in the State is 1.10 lakh hectares.
Poultry
PoultryPoultry
Poultry are domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of producing eggs, meat, and/or feathers. These most typically are members of the superorder Galloanserae , especially the order Galliformes and the family Anatidae , commonly known as "waterfowl"...
rearing which had been a cottage industry all along has now become a big industry by itself in many places in the districts of Namakkal
Namakkal District
Namakkal District is an administrative district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The district was bifurcated from Salem District with Namakkal town as Head Quarters on 25-07-1996 and started to function independently from 01-01-1997...
, Salem
Salem District
Salem District is a district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Salem is the district headquarters. Other major towns in the district are Mettur, Omalur and Attur...
, Erode
Erode District
Erode District is a western district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India, with Erode as its headquarters. Until the year 1996, Erode district was called as Periyar District....
and Coimbatore
Coimbatore District
Coimbatore District is one of the more affluent and industrially advanced districts of the state of Tamil Nadu in India. Coimbatore is known as the Manchester of South India. It one of the most industrialized towns of Tamil Nadu. It has the highest GDP among the districts of Tamil Nadu, even ahead...
. There is a good potential for export of eggs, egg products and frozen chicken meat from the State to Gulf countries, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
etc. The Tamil Nadu poultry industry contributes 16.5% of country’s total poultry export.
Fisheries
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
is a source of healthy food for humanity at large. Historically, Fishing has been a major source of livelihood for coastal and inland
Inland
Inland is an area of land away from the coast or shore line. It usually refers to the interior part of a country or region.Inland may refer to:* Inland Fräkne Hundred, a hundred of Bohuslän in Sweden...
fishing communities. In recent years, fisheries have
become an important economic activity and contribute to significant growth in nutritional security, employment generation and foreign exchange
Foreign exchange market
The foreign exchange market is a global, worldwide decentralized financial market for trading currencies. Financial centers around the world function as anchors of trading between a wide range of different types of buyers and sellers around the clock, with the exception of weekends...
earnings. Tamil Nadu is one of the important coastal States in the East coast, Tamil Nadu is having a coastline of 1076 km. It has 13 Coastal Districts and 591 fishing villages with 363 fish landing centres. Tamil Nadu ranks third in Marine fish
production and the annual marine fish catch for the year 2008-09 was 3.97 lakh tonnes. During 2008-09, about 68,397 M.T. of marine products valued at 1,77,220.00 lakhs was exported from Tamil Nadu.
Dairy
MilkMilk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
is the prime product of Dairying. India is the largest milk producing country in the World, in which Tamil Nadu is one of the frontline States in milk production and ranks as number one in the country in the coverage of more than 50% of revenue villages under Co-operative ambit. There are 8246 functional primary milk societies with 22.29 lakhs members.
Governance
The CentralGovernment of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
and Tamil Nadu State Government
Government of Tamil Nadu
The Government of Tamil Nadu, headquartered at Chennai is the governing authority for the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. It is seated at the Fort St. George...
is continuously taking efforts to make Agriculture which is a primary sector, as a growth engine for economic development of the State. During 2006-07 the State Government have waived agriculture loan obtained from Co operative Banks to the tune of 6,866 crores. The Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
during 2007-08 waived agricultural loan obtained from Commercial Banks at national level amounting to 60,000 crores. Out of which 2,843.90 crores waived for the agriculture loan obtained by Tamil Nadu farmers from Commercial Banks.
State support for agriculture
The major initiatives undertaken by the Government of Tamil NaduGovernment of Tamil Nadu
The Government of Tamil Nadu, headquartered at Chennai is the governing authority for the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. It is seated at the Fort St. George...
to achieve the targeted agricultural production during
2009-10 are listed below:-
- Adoption of System of Rice Intensification technology .
- Promotion of Precision Farming - adoption of drip fertigation with all scientific practices.
- Restoration of Soil Health – Need based Macro and Micro Nutrient application as per Soil Health Card recommendations.
- Quality seedSeedA seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
supply – Promotion of newly released High Yielding / Hybrids. Special steps to enhance the availability of quality pulses seeds and oilseeds. - Encouraging production of Vermi Compost at Farm Hold Level and Municipal Compost production and Bio-input production by Self Help Groups for enriching soil health besides promoting green manuring and use of bio-fertilizers.
- Promotion of Micro Irrigation – especially for high water intensive crops like sugarcane and coconut
- Special focus to enhance the productivity of pulses through DAP spraying / Micro Nutrient application and timely plant protection.
- Steps to promote soil and moisture conservation measures, compartmental bunding, establishsing farm ponds and adoption of dryland development technologies to enhance productivity of rainfed crops, besides distribution of machineries suitable for rainfed condition.
- Farm Mechanization - Distribution of machineries to overcome the problem of labour scarcity.
- Technology dissemination through private extension and input supply by establishing Agri Clinics with soil testing facilities in all the blocks.
- Empowerment of farm women groups technologically, socially, and economically by involving them to take up entrepreneurial activities.
Agricultural marketing and Agri-business
AgricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
sector needs ‘well-functioning Market’ to drive growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
, employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
and economic prosperity. The Department of Agricultural Marketing, which is functioning since 1977 enhance many activities, some of them are:
- Establishment and maintenance of Uzhavar Sandhais for the benefit of farmers as well as consumers.
- Establishment and maintenance of regulated markets to facilitate marketing of agricultural produce for the benefit of the farming community.
- Creating awareness among the farmers about the benefits of grading, marketing, value addition and processing their produce through regulated markets by taking up training, publicity and propaganda.
- Agmark grading of agricultural, animal husbandry and forestry products for the benefit of the consumers.
- Setting up Agriculture Export Zones for promoting export of agricultural produce by increasing the area under exportable crops and also providing necessary post harvest management and other infrastructure required and information on prices prevailing at international markets as an integrated approach. Dissemination of market price information of various districts through media and internet on a daily basis for the benefit of farming community.
- Promotion of Food Processing to minimize wastage of agricultural products and to increase employment opportunities.
Agriculture in Tamil literature
| However they roam the world must follow still the plougher’s team; Though toilsome, culture of the ground as noblest toil esteem. |