3 weeks ago
Tamil Nadu Agriculture Budget Draws Farmers' Criticism
The Tamil Nadu government shared its plan for helping farmers, called the agriculture budget, for the year 2026-27.
Farmers who grow crops heard about the plan and felt sad and disappointed.
They said the plan did not fix the big problems farmers face.
Farmers have to spend a lot of money to grow crops, but the plan did not help reduce those costs.
The government had promised to cancel the money farmers owe as loans, but farmers say that promise was not kept.
One farmers' group leader said the budget was like a stage show with no real help.
Another group said farmers who rely only on rain were ignored.
The government proposed a spray to keep wild boars away, but farmers say it stops working after rain.
Farmers asked for more money for crop insurance and for growing millet.
They hope the government will listen and do better next time.
Farmers' organisations criticised the Tamil Nadu agriculture budget 2026-27, presented on Thursday, for ignoring cultivators' pressing concerns.
Tamil Vivasaayigal Sangam president O.A. Narayanasamy called the maiden TVK-led government budget a 'disappointing exercise' resembling a stage performance.
Critics said the coalition government failed to honour its election promise of a complete crop loan waiver and announced no major long-term farm measures.
Karisal Bhoomi Farmers' Association president A. Varadharajan said rainfed farmers were ignored and the subsidised wild boar repellent would have little practical impact.
Farmers demanded higher crop insurance allocations, more support for millet cultivation, onion storage assistance and subsidised native coriander seeds.
- Who
- Farmers' bodies Tamil Vivasaayigal Sangam and Karisal Bhoomi Farmers' Association, criticising the TVK-led coalition government.
- What
- The Tamil Nadu agriculture budget 2026-27, which farmers' bodies say fails to improve farm incomes or reduce cultivation costs.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu, with criticism voiced from Virudhunagar, Kovilpatti and Thoothukudi.
- When
- The budget was presented on Thursday for the fiscal year 2026-27.
- Why
- Because the budget did not deliver a complete crop loan waiver or major schemes for rainfed and dryland farmers, according to the critics.
Key facts
- Budget
- Tamil Nadu agriculture budget 2026-27
- Government
- Coalition government led by TVK under Joseph Vijay
- Nature
- Maiden agriculture budget of the TVK-led government
- Budget presentation length
- Nearly two-and-a-half hours
- Main critics
- Tamil Vivasaayigal Sangam and Karisal Bhoomi Farmers' Association
- Unfulfilled promise cited
- Complete crop loan waiver
- Demands raised
- Crop insurance, millet cultivation support, onion storage infrastructure, native coriander seeds
Quotes
O.A. Narayanasamy
President of the Tamil Vivasaayigal Sangam, representing farmer interests in Virudhunagar
“"The budget has failed rainfed farmers by not announcing any major schemes for dryland agriculture and by offering only a subsidised wild boar repellent that has little practical impact."”
deccanchronicle.com
“"The maiden agriculture budget of the Joseph Vijay-led TVK government is a disappointing exercise, resembling a stage performance rather than a roadmap for revitalising the farm sector."”
deccanchronicle.com










