Agriculture - Tamil Nadu Economy

Agriculture

Tamil Nadu, with seven agro climatic zones and varied soil types is better suited for the production of fruits, vegetables, spices, plantation crops, flowers and medicinal plants. The State is the largest producer of loose flowers and the third largest producer of fruits.

Tamil Nadu has historically been an agricultural State. At present, Tamil Nadu is the India’s second biggest producer of rice, next only to West Bengal. The state is one of the major producers of turmeric. It is also the leading producer of Kambu, Corn, Groundnut, Oil seeds and Sugarcane. It ranks first in production of plantation crops and banana and coconut, second in rubber and cashew nut, third in pepper and fourth in sugarcane.

The gross cropped area under all crops was 58.97 lakh hectares in the year 2013-14. The area under food crops account for 72.9% and that of non-food crops is 27.1%. Among the food crops paddy takes a major share. Among the non-food crops, groundnut and coconut take a major share.

Net sown area has been gradually declining; and, rural land, labour and capital are moving towards urban projects. As a result, villages are emptied and cities are over-crowded and congested, leading to spatially unbalanced bulging.

1. Foodgrain Production 

Rice production dominates among food grain production with 79.49 lakh tones on 2014-15 followed by millets at 40.79 lakh tons. There is significant jump in pulses production from 3.59 lakhs ton in 2011- to 7.67 lakh ton in 2014-15. There may be changes in these statistics. Hence updation is unavoidable.

2. Productivity Position of Tamil Nadu and India

The Government of Tamil Nadu lays emphasis on agricultural production and productivity. As a result, Tamil Nadu tops in productivity, in food crops as well as non-food crops, among the States in India.

Tamil Nadu ranks first in maize, cumbu, groundnut, oil seeds and cotton; second in rice and coconut, third in sugarcane, sunflower and jowar.