T.N. Agriculture Budget: ₹600 crore over five years for Tamil Nadu Soil Fertility Mission
The Tamil Nadu government has announced a ₹600 crore Soil Fertility Mission to be implemented over five years. The initiative aims to improve soil health through organic farming, biofertilizers, and the distribution of Soil Health Cards to farmers.
Why it matters
This policy addresses critical agricultural sustainability issues, such as soil degradation caused by excessive chemical fertilizer use.
The Tamil Nadu Soil Fertility Mission will be implemented across the state at an estimated outlay of ₹600 crore over five years to improve soil quality, Agriculture Minister Vinoth R announced in the Agriculture Budget presented in the Assembly on Thursday. An allocation of ₹122 crore has been earmarked for the scheme this year.
The budget said the continuous use of chemical fertilizers, poor crop residue management, and improper biomass recycling have reduced soil organic carbon, adversely affecting soil health and crop productivity. To address these issues, the Government of Tamil Nadu is launching the Tamil Nadu Soil Fertility Mission. The mission will focus on increasing the population of beneficial soil micro-organisms, reclaiming alkaline and saline soils, reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, and promoting natural and organic farming practices.
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