O Panneerselvam presents budget with stress on agri production

CHENNAI: State finance minister O. Panneerselvam on Thursday presented a tax free budget with a revenue of Rs 1,48,175.09 crore against an expenditure of Rs 1,64,029.01 crore leading to deficit of 2.96 per cent. He said the overall outstanding borrowings had been estimated at Rs 2.52,431 crores, which will be 18.43 per cent of the GSDP. He said the state government had fixed a food production target of 147 lakh metric tonnes for the financial year using high-end technology, besides launching a self-sufficiency pulse production programme.

“As promised in the election manifesto, a new scheme will be launched for dry land farming, focusing on improving the production and productivity of millets, pulses and oilseeds. Water conservation measures will be taken up as an integral part of this scheme. A special self-sufficiency pulse production programme will be launched this year, specifically for promoting cultivation of green gram, black gram and red gram under irrigated conditions”.

He said the state had planned to bring 27.50 lakh acres of land under 20 pulses during 2016-2017, aiming at an overall production of 9.80 lakh metric tonnes and added that those measures would help the state to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses production in the state. “The area under fruits and vegetables cultivation will be increased from the present level of 13.85 lakh acres to 16 lakh acres in the next five years. Cocoa, one of the most potential commercial crops, will be promoted in suitable agro-climatic zones and in coconut plantations as a multi-tier crop”, he said.

A new product dairy will be established at a cost of Rs 45 crore at Madurai, to promote the dairy sector in Southern districts. This will produce a range of milk products including ice cream. “As promised in the election manifesto, the relief assistance provided under both these schemes will be enhanced to Rs 5,000 per family.