Tamil Nadu unveils climate-focused Agriculture Budget; Stalin calls it 'empty'

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday unveiled a climate-focused Agriculture Budget 2026-27, announcing a carbon trading scheme for farmers, a ₹600 crore soil fertility mission and a series of measures aimed at improving climate resilience, even as DMK president M K Stalin dismissed the Budget as "empty" and accused the ruling government of ignoring farmers' distress.

Presenting the Budget in the Legislative Assembly, Agriculture Minister R Vinoth said the state was preparing for increasing climate uncertainties, including the anticipated Super El Niño phenomenon, with several initiatives to strengthen sustainable farming and protect agricultural livelihoods.

Among the key announcements was a pilot carbon trading scheme under which farmers adopting sustainable cultivation practices such as Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) and Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation would be able to earn additional income through carbon credits. The government has earmarked ₹60 lakh to launch demonstration projects across 2,000 acres and develop monitoring and verification protocols.

According to the Budget, these cultivation methods could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 50 per cent while increasing carbon sequestration in agricultural soils.

The government also warned that 12 districts are likely to face severe climatic impacts during the Kuruvai cultivation season due to the expected Super El Niño. It said District Collectors have been directed to implement mitigation measures based on the District Agricultural Contingency Plan prepared by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

As part of its long-term strategy, the government announced the Tamil Nadu Soil Fertility Mission, a five-year programme with a total outlay of ₹600 crore. An allocation of ₹122.51 crore has been made for 2026-27 to restore soil organic carbon, reclaim saline and alkaline soils and reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers.

The Budget also provides ₹8 crore to incentivise organic farming at ₹4,000 per acre across 20,000 acres and ₹10 crore to establish permanent vermicompost production units. Organic farmers registering under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) will receive exemptions from registration and renewal fees during the conversion period.

In another green initiative, the government announced a ₹17.70 crore Agroforestry Scheme to restore 12,500 acres of cultivable fallow land by planting high-value timber species, including teak, mahogany, sandalwood and red sanders.

Reaction from DMK

However, the announcements drew sharp criticism from Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister M K Stalin, who alleged that the Budget failed to address the immediate concerns of farmers affected by drought and crop losses.

"Instead of addressing drought, the Tamil Nadu Agriculture Budget 2026 was used solely to sing praises and shower the Chief Minister with flattery," Stalin said in a post on X.

He accused the government of merely renaming existing schemes instead of introducing meaningful interventions.

"This government has turned out to be nothing more than another name-changing exercise. Does this government think its job is done simply by sticking the label 'Victory' onto its schemes?" he said, in an apparent reference to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Stalin also said the Budget had offered no relief to Cauvery Delta farmers who suffered crop losses during the Kuruvai season.

"This agricultural budget has proven to be an empty budget, offering nothing to the Delta farmers who have suffered crop losses during the Kuruvai cultivation season and are eagerly waiting for the government's helping hand," he said.

The DMK chief added that his party would continue to raise farmers' issues throughout the ongoing Assembly session.