CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government will provide Rs 17,000 crore in crop loans to farmers during the current financial year to meet their short-term agricultural credit requirements, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister R Vinoth announced while presenting the 2026-27 Agriculture Budget in the Assembly on Thursday.
The Minister said the crop loans would help farmers meet the credit requirements for cultivation during the year.
"Crop loans to the tune of Rs 17,000 crore will be provided to meet the short-term agricultural credit requirements for crop cultivation," the Budget document stated.
In addition, the government will extend Rs 3,000 crore in working capital loans to support allied agricultural activities such as animal husbandry, fisheries and other farm-related enterprises.
To improve the livelihood of landless members of the Scheduled Caste community, the government will provide medium-term and capital loans through cooperative banks for livestock rearing.
Highlighting the progress made so far, the Minister said that as of July 15, crop loans worth Rs 159.41 crore had been disbursed to 12,752 farmers during the current financial year. During the same period, livestock maintenance loans amounting to Rs 140.91 crore had been provided to 19,324 beneficiaries.
The Minister also said that Rs 5,267 crore had been disbursed in four instalments under the crop loan waiver scheme.
To encourage livestock rearing, the government announced a financial assistance of Rs 5,000 each for 5,000 indigenous cattle owned by Women Self-Help Group members.
The Agriculture Budget further proposed the establishment of 500 medium-scale dairy farms and 5,000 mini dairy units to promote dairy entrepreneurship, increase milk production, generate year-round employment and improve the livelihoods of milk producers, particularly women.