Chennai, Mar 19 : The Tamil Nadu government will form two millets special zones to enhance millet production in the State. Presenting the second agriculture budget in the State Assembly on Sautrday, Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam said the millets special zones will be formed as part of the Tamil Nadu Millet Mission. Millets are minuscule in appearance, but highly nutritious for strengthening the body. To endorse this concept, the ted Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 as the “International Year of Millets”. “To enhance millet production, Two Millets Special Zones will be formed covering the districts of Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Kallakurichi, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Vellore districts as one zone and Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Tenkasi, Ramnathapuram, Sivagangai, Theni, Trichy, Karur, Dindigul Ariyalur and Perambalur as the second zone”, the Minister said. To create awareness on the importance of millet nutrition among farmers, Entrepreneurs, Farmer Producer Organizations, Women Self Help Groups, voluntary organizations and consumers, Millet Festivals will be organized at the State and District levels. Farmers will be encouraged with assistance for activities starting from cultivation till marketing the produce with value addition. This scheme will be implemented with a total allocation of Rs.92 crore from on and State Government fund. Panneerselvam said to promote production and consumption of millets among Self Help Groups, the State Government will take steps to support 500 marginal farmers at a cost of Rs.one crore under Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihood Mission. He said in order to achieve self sufficiency in Pulses production, Red gram production and cultivation of Pulses in fallow lands, a Special Redgram Zone will be formed comprising Krishnagri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai and Salem districts. He also said steps will be taken for processing, value addition and marketing the harvested pulses. This scheme will be implemented at an outlay of Rs.60 crore, during 2022-23, with on and State Government fund. He said in a bid to making Youth into Agri–entrepreneurs, financial assistance will be provided at the rate of Rs.one lakh each to the 200 unemployed Agriculture or Horticulture or Agricultural Engineering graduates for establishing Agri clinic or Agro based activities with financial allocation of Rs two crore. As part of Rural Youth Agricultural Skill Development Mission, skill training will be imparted to 2,500 rural youth during the year 2022-23 for taking up Agriculture and agro based industry as a profitable venture. While announcing reward to best performing farmers in organic farming, innovations in local agriculture techniques and machineries and best performing exporters, the Minister also announced a Tamil Nadu Mission for Sustainable Green Cover in Farm Lands. Forests are natural magnets that attract rain and emerald umbrellas that cool the earth. It is necessary to grow trees and increase the forest cover in Tamil Nadu. Tree cultivation will be encouraged to withstand climate change and provide good returns to farmers in future like a fixed deposit. During 2022-23, high value tree seedlings such as Red sander, sandal, mahogany, teak etc., will be distributed to farmers at subsidy at an estimated budget outlay of Rs.12 crore to encourage tree based farming (Agro forestry). Launching of Integrated Farming System for Sustainable Income was another key announcement made in the budget. The Integrated Farming System (IFS) will be demonstrated with cultivation of crops and Fodder along with rearing of Milch cow, Goats or Sheep and Poultry, Birds, cultivation of Tree crops, apiary, Vermi-compost production and Nutri-garden, by providing an assistance of Rs.50,000 for each IFS t. During 2022-23, 13,000 IFS ts will be established at an oulay of Rs.65.65 crore with on and State Government fund. He said despite severe financial crunch, the State Government continues to implement the Crop Insurance Scheme to protect the farmers from crop losses due to adverse natural calamities. Due to the continuous efforts of the Government of Tamil Nadu, an amount of Rs.2,055 crore has been disbursed to 9.26 lakh farmers as compensation for 2020-2021. “For implementing this crop insurance scheme continuously during 2022-23, I proudly convey the sweet news that the State Government has allocated an amount of Rs.2,399 crore as state share of premium subsidy”, he added. On promotion of Organic Farming, Panneerselvam said as announced in the last year’s Agriculture Budget, the State Government has initiated establishment of Nammazhvar Organic Farming Research Institute for encouraging the farmers who are interested in Organic farming. Now, during 2022-23, a sum of Rs.4 crore has been allocated for production of Organic produces in foodgrains, vegetables, fruits for development of imm ty to lead a healthier life. He said financial assistance at the rate of Rs.1 Lakh per group will be extended to 100 farmers and Farmer producer who are interested in production and sale of organic inputs like Vermicompost, Jeevamirtham etc., Besides, under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, farmers who are interested in Organic farming will be integrated to form 150 clusters covering an area of 7,500 acres at an outlay of Rs.5 Crore under on and State Government funds. GV 1313