Govt to find market for agricultural produce abroad
Coimbatore, June 23 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister Veerapandi Arumugan today said the government would take steps to find markets abroad for agricultural produce to ensure better price for farmers.
Addressing the farmer's conference at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) here, he said the government would set up a separate body to act as an agent to procure the produce and market them abroad.
Emphasising on the need to implement technological innovations in agriculture to boost production, he said the government had allocated Rs 133 crore for drip irrigation and Rs 266 crore for the development of horticulture in this fiscal.
On repeated complaints that nationalised banks were not keen on extending loans to Self Help Groups (SHGs), occupied in agricultural related activities, he said the government would take necessary steps to ensure that the banks extend loans to the SHGs.
He said about 1600 agriculture graduates and diploma holders would be appointed to various posts in agricultural departments.
UNI