STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Nearly three-quarters of Tamil Nadu families depend on rural incomes.
The majority of Tamil Nadu poor ( about 51.6%percent) are found in rural areas.
Tamil Nadu food security depends on producing cereal crops, as well as increasing its production of fruits, vegetables and milk to meet the demands of a growing population with rising incomes.
Overview
While agriculture’s share in Tamil Nadu economy has progressively declined to less than 10.6% due to the high growth rates of the industrial and services sectors, the sector’s importance in Tamil Nadu economic and social fabric goes well beyond this indicator. First, nearly three-quarters of Tamil Nadu families depend on rural incomes. Second, the majority of Tamil Nadu poor (about 51.6% percent) are found in rural areas. And third, Tamil Nadu food security depends on producing cereal crops, as well as increasing its production of fruits, vegetables and milk to meet the demands of a growing population with rising incomes. To do so, a productive, competitive, diversified and sustainable agricultural sector will need to emerge at an accelerated pace.
Tamil Nadu is a global agricultural powerhouse. It is the largest producer of milk, pulses, and spices, and has the largest cattle herd (buffaloes), as well as the largest area under wheat, rice and cotton. It is the largest producer of rice, wheat, cotton, sugarcane, farmed fish, sheep & goat meat, fruit, vegetables and tea.
Agriculture Challenges
Three agriculture sector challenges will be important to Tami Nadu overall development and the improved welfare of its rural poor:
1. Raising agricultural productivity per unit of land: Raising productivity per unit of land will need to be the main engine of agricultural growth as virtually all cultivable land is farmed. Water resources are also limited and water for irrigation must contend with increasing industrial and urban needs. All measures to increase productivity will need exploiting, amongst them: increasing yields, diversification to higher value crops, and developing value chains to reduce marketing costs.
2. Reducing rural poverty through a socially inclusive strategy that comprises both agriculture as well as non-farm employment: Rural development must also benefit the poor, landless, women, scheduled castes and tribes.
3. Ensuring that agricultural growth responds to food security needs: The sharp rise in food-grain production during India’s Green Revolution of the 1970s enabled the country to achieve self-sufficiency in food-grains and stave off the threat of famine. Agricultural intensification in the 1970s to 1980s saw an increased demand for rural labor that raised rural wages and, together with declining food prices, reduced rural poverty.
Priority Areas for Support
1. Enhancing agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and rural growth:
Improving Water Resources and Irrigation/Drainage Management: Agriculture is largest user of water. However, increasing competition for water between industry, domestic use and agriculture has highlighted the need to plan and manage water on a river basin and multi-sectoral basis. As urban and other demands multiply, less water is likely to be available for irrigation.
√ Facilitating agricultural diversification to higher-value commodities.
√ Promoting high growth commodities.
√ Developing markets, agricultural credit and public expenditures.
2. Sustaining in the environment and future agricultural productivity.
In parts of India, the over-pumping of water for agricultural use is leading to falling groundwater levels. Conversely, water-logging is leading to the build-up of salts in the soils of some irrigated areas. In rain-fed areas on the other hand, where the majority of the rural population live, agricultural practices need adapting to reduce soil erosion and increase the absorption of rainfall.
For further details contact,
Ms. Syed.Sayera - B.Sc., (Hons) Agriculture and Dr. B. Guna , Associate Professor
(Agrl. Extension ). Nalanda College of Agriculture, M.R. Palayam, Tiruchirapalli.
Email : baluguna8789@gmail.com. Phone number :9944641459.
Nearly three-quarters of Tamil Nadu families depend on rural incomes.
The majority of Tamil Nadu poor ( about 51.6%percent) are found in rural areas.
Tamil Nadu food security depends on producing cereal crops, as well as increasing its production of fruits, vegetables and milk to meet the demands of a growing population with rising incomes.
Overview
While agriculture’s share in Tamil Nadu economy has progressively declined to less than 10.6% due to the high growth rates of the industrial and services sectors, the sector’s importance in Tamil Nadu economic and social fabric goes well beyond this indicator. First, nearly three-quarters of Tamil Nadu families depend on rural incomes. Second, the majority of Tamil Nadu poor (about 51.6% percent) are found in rural areas. And third, Tamil Nadu food security depends on producing cereal crops, as well as increasing its production of fruits, vegetables and milk to meet the demands of a growing population with rising incomes. To do so, a productive, competitive, diversified and sustainable agricultural sector will need to emerge at an accelerated pace.
Tamil Nadu is a global agricultural powerhouse. It is the largest producer of milk, pulses, and spices, and has the largest cattle herd (buffaloes), as well as the largest area under wheat, rice and cotton. It is the largest producer of rice, wheat, cotton, sugarcane, farmed fish, sheep & goat meat, fruit, vegetables and tea.
Agriculture Challenges
Three agriculture sector challenges will be important to Tami Nadu overall development and the improved welfare of its rural poor:
1. Raising agricultural productivity per unit of land: Raising productivity per unit of land will need to be the main engine of agricultural growth as virtually all cultivable land is farmed. Water resources are also limited and water for irrigation must contend with increasing industrial and urban needs. All measures to increase productivity will need exploiting, amongst them: increasing yields, diversification to higher value crops, and developing value chains to reduce marketing costs.
2. Reducing rural poverty through a socially inclusive strategy that comprises both agriculture as well as non-farm employment: Rural development must also benefit the poor, landless, women, scheduled castes and tribes.
3. Ensuring that agricultural growth responds to food security needs: The sharp rise in food-grain production during India’s Green Revolution of the 1970s enabled the country to achieve self-sufficiency in food-grains and stave off the threat of famine. Agricultural intensification in the 1970s to 1980s saw an increased demand for rural labor that raised rural wages and, together with declining food prices, reduced rural poverty.
Priority Areas for Support
1. Enhancing agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and rural growth:
Improving Water Resources and Irrigation/Drainage Management: Agriculture is largest user of water. However, increasing competition for water between industry, domestic use and agriculture has highlighted the need to plan and manage water on a river basin and multi-sectoral basis. As urban and other demands multiply, less water is likely to be available for irrigation.
√ Facilitating agricultural diversification to higher-value commodities.
√ Promoting high growth commodities.
√ Developing markets, agricultural credit and public expenditures.
2. Sustaining in the environment and future agricultural productivity.
In parts of India, the over-pumping of water for agricultural use is leading to falling groundwater levels. Conversely, water-logging is leading to the build-up of salts in the soils of some irrigated areas. In rain-fed areas on the other hand, where the majority of the rural population live, agricultural practices need adapting to reduce soil erosion and increase the absorption of rainfall.
For further details contact,
Ms. Syed.Sayera - B.Sc., (Hons) Agriculture and Dr. B. Guna , Associate Professor
(Agrl. Extension ). Nalanda College of Agriculture, M.R. Palayam, Tiruchirapalli.
Email : baluguna8789@gmail.com. Phone number :9944641459.